AHC and WI: Largest Japanese Empire OUTSIDE China

[King Helü of Wu]

Let's say the Chinese army was way much more competent than OTL, as a result, Japan could not gain any territory from China and Korea during the Second Sino-Japanese War 1895. (With such an outcome, Taiwan remained Chinese, Sakhalin was already ceded to Russia in 1858.)

Japan faced a situation much similar to what the British faced after the lost her last bridgehead on continental Europe, Calais. She were forced to become an Maritime Empire.

A strong China (Qing? Beiyang RoC? Empire of China? up to you.) was anti-Russia and somewhat pro-Japan, and she defined herself a land power with Russia as her potential enemy. China limits its navy to just enough to defend its coast, with 1 or 2 battleships and latter a moderately-sized submarine fleet. But her army was state-of-the-art.

Under such circumstances, Japan did the opposite. She opted for a strong navy and weak army, and aimed elsewhere for colonial expansion.

Let's say trade with a friendly China could compensate the loss of Korea and give Japan a better economy than OTL to fund such a great navy.

Your task is to make Japan's colonial empire as large as possible, and evaluate the possible impact of such an Empire.

A Japanese Southeast Asia? A Japanese Australia? A Japanese South America? A Japanese Africa?

I do not recommend Siberia, for this will make China (ITTL Japan's ally) feel threatened.

You have from 1895 to 2012 to make your empire.

 

[Color-Copycat]

OTL already has a Japanese South America.

 

[King Helü of Wu]

OTL already has a Japanese South America.

Great! If someone writes a timeline for this, Peru MUST be included. Fujimori could be the Japanese Governor of Peruvian Governorate.

(Peru's flag colours seems to hint a connection to Japan...)

 

[lycan]

China would have influence over Asia proper while Japan would have island regions such as the East Indies. If they worked together, maybe they could have influence in India?

 

[Color-Copycat]

If the British didn't let the Russians extend their sphere of influence to the Jewel of the Empire, I doubt they'd be so courteous as to extend the offer to a Sino-Japanese Alliance.

 

[King Helü of Wu]

If the British didn't let the Russians extend their sphere of influence to the Jewel of the Empire, I doubt they'd be so courteous as to extend the offer to a Sino-Japanese Alliance.

Japan made war over the colonies IOTL, it would do it again ITTL despite resistance from older powers.

 

[Color-Copycat]

But over India? The British have literally limitless reserves of manpower to call up there.

 

[lycan]

Japan made war over the colonies IOTL, it would do it again ITTL despite resistance from older powers.

and with help from a powerful China.

 

[pa_dutch]

How do islands like Taiwan and Sakhalin factor into the requirements?

The Pacific is easy enough, considering the South Pacific Mandate of OTL. The Japanese could perhaps take Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and part of Papua.

 

[King Helü of Wu]

How do islands like Taiwan and Sakhalin factor into the requirements?

The Pacific is easy enough, considering the South Pacific Mandate of OTL. The Japanese could perhaps take Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and part of Papua.

Taiwan remained Chinese, Sakhalin was already ceded to Russia by China in 1858.

The fate of the pacific islands depends on how First World War turns out. (Or should there still be a First World War?)

 

[King Helü of Wu]

But over India? The British have literally limitless reserves of manpower to call up there.

But they were neither subjugated nor contented.

Chandra Bose come into my mind.

 

[Color-Copycat]

The Japanese tried getting a fifth columnist independence movement going on IOTL, and needless to say, it failed miserably.