User blog comment:Enclavehunter/Germany vs Japan/@comment-4206034-20111122090912/@comment-32656-20111202144100

Not the case, Imp. Any move southwards - even ignoring the Philippines - would have meant war. Of that there is little doubt. That's why the attack on Pearl happened, imo. Would not have been unanimous like in otl, but it would have been war all the same.