France, the Netherlands, and Singapore reshape the coalition

France depends on Royal Navy maritime security and still controls Indochina, making neutrality both strategically costly and dangerous. The Netherlands faces a similar calculation because its East Indies position rests on Britain remaining the dominant regional naval power. Japan cannot simply repeat its later southern campaign: troops and plans have not been assembled, Singapore retains experienced defenders, and the choice of a closer base risks war with France or the United States. An early coalition or central command is therefore more likely than an isolated Anglo-Japanese contest. Geography, alliance dependence, and preparation time constrain Japanese operational choices before the fleets meet.