A tactical draw; a strategic victory because the Japanese fleet turned tail and ran.
They did that again and again. At Guadalcanal the Jap would savage the US Navy and then not take advantage of it. Leyte gulf also. The invasion beaches were wide open yet Kurita withdrew. It was supposed to be a suicide mission. I guess only the privates and NCOs and pilots were actually required to give all. The brass, not so much.
“A tactical draw; a strategic victory because the Japanese fleet turned tail and ran.”
indeed, and the strategic victory marked the closest the Japs ever got to taking over Australia ...