American Taiwan, Japanese Alaska

[Deleted member 109224]

Commodore Matthew Perry proposed in 1854 that the United States annex Taiwan.

What if the United States had taken Taiwan on Perry's recommendation and the Japanese later took Alaska from the Russians?

 

[Plateosaurus]

The US would then annex Alaska from Japan with Canada and Russia's help come a certain war.

 

[Deleted member 109224]

The US would then annex Alaska from Japan with Canada and Russia's help come a certain war.

90 years of butterflies just screamed in horror.

If they have Sakhalin as well as Alaska (a big if) then the Japanese would likely be self-sufficient in terms of oil.
Alaska is also better for agriculture than one might think (the long days offsetting the shorter growing season for various crops). Plus there'd be all of those additional fishing waters. Japan may be more self-sufficient with regards to food production here.

Food and energy security goes a long way towards reducing the geopolitical incentives for bellicosity.

 

[Cryostorm]

The US would then annex Alaska from Japan with Canada and Russia's help come a certain war.

That or let Canada take it in exchange for taking something else.

 

[Sevarics]

Would Taiwan ever become a state or would we let it become independent

 

[kasumigenx]

In this case, it is more likely for America to purchase Luzon only.