Pacific War AHC/WI

I was wondering what might precipitate a war between the USA and Japan during the late 1930s to early 1940s - around the same time as OTL's war - but without a general European war. Assuming neutrality from the French and British, what could cause such a war?

I figure that the ultimate outcome is unlikely to be different from OTL, with a Japanese defeat, but if there were other implications of a Pacific War taking place without a counterpart in Europe, those would be good to hear as well.
 
Maybe just the same thing that started things OTL. Japan invades China, after a series of escalations, the US embargoes oil. Japan invades the DEI, bypassing the Philippines and leaving the French & British alone, figuring that no one is going to go to bat for the Dutch. Maybe everyone protests but, if the Netherlands accepts the fait accompli, no one will do anything about it. If not, though...
 
If the Americans embargo oil exports, the Japanese can't afford to ignore the Philippines. Also, they need to take FIC, an uncertain chance if Metropolitan France is still intact.
 
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