Challenge: China straight from Qing to PRC

[Roberto]

How could we get China to transition straight from the Qing Dynasty to a Communist regime (not neccesarily the PRC) without the Republican phase in between?

[Tocomocho]

Have the 8-Nation Alliance place Guangxu back in power in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion (1901). The Western powers always considered Guangxu the head of state, and the revolt would have never reach that size if Cixi had not backed it, so it's quite striking why it didn't happen in OTL.

Guangxu implements some reforms and brings back the exiled reformers (Kang Youwei, Sun Yat-Sen, etc) but eventually dies young and childless in 1908 (assuming he wasn't poisoned by Cixi or Yuan Shikai in OTL). He is succeeded by his brother Zaifeng, II Prince Chun; Zaifeng (well, Zaifeng under a new cool Imperial Name) continues the reforms but not at the necessary rate to satisfy all factions. Still, this is enough to not have the Wuchang uprisings turning into the 1911 revolution and the Qing are still around when Franz Ferdinand is shot in Sarajevo in 1914.

China enters the Great War on the side of the allies in 1916, in a movement that proves to be highly unpopular, as the nation is widely seen to be fighting on behalf of the same countries that had repeately humiliated her. Further humiliations by Japan (who refuses to give back captured Qingdao and tries to implement the *21 Demands) only strengthens the idea that the Manchus are mismanaging China.

Coming 1918-1919, China's demands are mostly ignored at Versailles, even despite the Emperor hoped to gain the favour of the Allies letting them to use China as a base against communist penetration in Siberia. Zaifeng also tries to improve his popularity gaining back the northern territories stolen by Russia between 1860 and 1914.

But by 1920 the Allies decide to give up Russia and leave Japan and China alone to fight the commies, and each one with very different views on the subject. Yellow-scared USA presses both nations to pull out of Siberia. Japan leaves, maybe after working a deal with the Soviets. Meanwhile, China remains, makes battle against the armies of veterans that fought in Poland and Ukraine and loses badly. Very badly. The communists contact with Mongolian separatists and eventually with Han nationalists too, and spread the belief that Communism is the way to get rid of both the Manchus and the European imperialists.

Between 1925 and 1930 general uprisings take place through China, overthrow the Qing Dynasty and proclaim the Union of Soviet Chinese Republics.

[Codae]

Originally Posted by Tocomocho

the Union of Soviet Chinese Republics.

Soviet is a Russian word.

[Zajir]

Originally Posted by Codae

Soviet is a Russian word.

So what,there is a Soviet Union in Tocomocho's timeline, and the fact that soviet is Russian didn't stop the Chinese Soviet Republicfrom taking form.

[Advernt]

Originally Posted by Tocomocho

Have the 8-Nation Alliance place Guangxu back in power in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion (1901). The Western powers always considered Guangxu the head of state, and the revolt would have never reach that size if Cixi had not backed it, so it's quite striking why it didn't happen in OTL.

Guangxu implements some reforms and brings back the exiled reformers (Kang Youwei, Sun Yat-Sen, etc) but eventually dies young and childless in 1908 (assuming he wasn't poisoned by Cixi or Yuan Shikai in OTL). He is succeeded by his brother Zaifeng, II Prince Chun; Zaifeng (well, Zaifeng under a new cool Imperial Name) continues the reforms but not at the necessary rate to satisfy all factions. Still, this is enough to not have the Wuchang uprisings turning into the 1911 revolution and the Qing are still around when Franz Ferdinand is shot in Sarajevo in 1914.

China enters the Great War on the side of the allies in 1916, in a movement that proves to be highly unpopular, as the nation is widely seen to be fighting on behalf of the same countries that had repeately humiliated her. Further humiliations by Japan (who refuses to give back captured Qingdao and tries to implement the *21 Demands) only strengthens the idea that the Manchus are mismanaging China.

Coming 1918-1919, China's demands are mostly ignored at Versailles, even despite the Emperor hoped to gain the favour of the Allies letting them to use China as a base against communist penetration in Siberia. Zaifeng also tries to improve his popularity gaining back the northern territories stolen by Russia between 1860 and 1914.

But by 1920 the Allies decide to give up Russia and leave Japan and China alone to fight the commies, and each one with very different views on the subject. Yellow-scared USA presses both nations to pull out of Siberia. Japan leaves, maybe after working a deal with the Soviets. Meanwhile, China remains, makes battle against the armies of veterans that fought in Poland and Ukraine and loses badly. Very badly. The communists contact with Mongolian separatists and eventually with Han nationalists too, and spread the belief that Communism is the way to get rid of both the Manchus and the European imperialists.

Between 1925 and 1930 general uprisings take place through China, overthrow the Qing Dynasty and proclaim the Union of Soviet Chinese Republics.

Perhaps you could combine this with a Soviets Hold on to Poland Timeline , and have China become four or five Soviet Republics ( more would be rather unrealisitic in my opinion , given the fact that the China Proper ) has never ever been balkanised for long ) . This would be a Soviet Wank on a stunning scale IMO , and I wonder whether the Western Powers would be willing to engage in a protracted war to prevent the Soviets from Crossing the Yangtze River.

[rcduggan]

Originally Posted by Codae

Soviet is a Russian word.

Tell that to the Bavarian, Hungarian, Alsatian, and OTL Chinese who founded their own Soviet republics. The word's origins are Russian, but that doesn't mean its use exclusively is.