If you’ve read Japanese thoughts on the situation, that was exactly their thinking, that they would have an approximately 12-18 month window where they could project and consolidate power and resources, or be forced to take a back seat to the demands of the west.
What the Pauls are saying is that we essentially knew that, and also knew that in forcing them to play their hand early the administration would get what they really desired which was a declaration out of Germany bringing us into the European theater before the Germans could consolidate a continental hegemony.
I’m aware of the history of what Japanese reasons given are but the Paul’s contention that the Japanese were “probably forced....” doesn’t include the Death March, the Rape of Nanking nor the Germans, presumably “forcing millions into ovens to bring to the world’s attention that the German people were forced into poverty by the other European countries after WWI.”