ＡＢＣＤ包囲網えーびーしーでぃーほういもう

noun

ABCD encirclement

Historical term for the economic and military encirclement of Japan by America, Britain, China, and the Dutch East Indies, beginning around 1940. Used in discussions of pre-WWII Japanese history.

• ＡＢＣＤ包ほう囲い網もうは、日本にほんが真しん珠じゅ湾わん攻こう撃げきに踏ふみ切きる一いち因いんとされる。

  The ABCD encirclement is considered one of the factors that led Japan to launch the attack on Pearl Harbor.