SsgtC
Banned
True. But the Japanese didn't exactly have a good read on the US or UK. They could have very easily convinced themselves that the US wouldn't respond to an attack on the DEI. And the UK didn't have much in theater. The need for oil trumps all for Japan. So if the Dutch have a powerful fleet in the area, the IJN may very well decide that they're the most imminent threat to the goal of seizing the oil fields.That leaves the issue that the more dangerous opponents (the US&UK) would be forewarned. And of course it is still a deterrent as it makes any war plans have more moving parts and the risk of one or two ships surviving and needing to be dealt with