Yes, Japan conquered the Philippines because it lay in their path to the DEI. But the main goal of the IJN was to eliminate the one main threat to their empire, the United States Pacific Fleet.
In this scenario where Japan already has the Philippines, they are still set on creating the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. This will put them in competition with the USA. The USA would work more closely with Britain, perhaps even having joint bases in the Pacific. Even without the Philippines, the USA still wants an open door in China and does not like the Japanese attempt to close it. So the USA would still economically sanction Japan and move the US Pacific fleet to Hawaii.
Japan sees this as a very aggressive. They see the only obstacle in their way to complete domination is the US Pacific Fleet. There you go, second order counterfactual ....
Unlikely to be the same as OTL. Japan attacked the US mainly because the Philippines sat alongside their LoC with Guam positioned across the LoC with the Fleet Base at Truk. Absent that Japan has no reason to declare war on the US, save to preempt the Two Ocean Navy, the US could enter the war later but would not have the motivation of OTL
Yes, Japan conquered the Philippines because it lay in their path to the DEI. But the main goal of the IJN was to eliminate the one main threat to their empire, the United States Pacific Fleet.
The ultimate goal that Japan had to starting the war by attacking Pearl and then attempting all in at Midway was to eliminate the US Pacific Fleet. The USN was the only threat that could contain the Japanese. Japan equated to elimination of American naval power to bringing the USA to the peace table where Japan gets to keep its possessions and resume trade with the USA.
In this scenario where Japan already has the Philippines, they are still set on creating the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity sphere. This will put them in competition with the USA. The USA would work more closely with Britain, perhaps even having joint bases in the Pacific. Even without the Philippines, the USA still wants an open door for trading in China and does not like the Japanese attempt to close it. So the USA would still economically sanction Japan and move the US Pacific fleet to Hawaii.
Japan sees this as very aggressive. They see the only obstacle in their way to complete domination is the US Pacific Fleet.
But of course this is if the butterflies for 40 years after the Philippines are captured by the Germans in 1898 are the same.