Could Japan have fielded a stronger commerce-raiding force?

With a change in doctrine, could Japan operate a commerce-raiding force and tie down more escorts in the Pacific?

Yes. Such a force could also operate in the Indian Ocean.

A change in doctrine could let Japan employ a commerce-raiding force in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The brief answer does not develop the force's size or composition, so it establishes feasibility rather than a complete alternative campaign. Later, the stream identifies the Dutch tanker Ondina and the corvette HMIS Bengal as ships that sank one Japanese armed merchant cruiser and drove off another. Their single 4-inch and 3-inch guns respectively are contrasted with the attackers' eight 5.5-inch guns, giving a concrete glimpse of the surface-raider warfare behind the counterfactual.