AHC: China annexes Korea/Japan post-1700

Is it possible for China to decide to annex Japan and Korea? Rather than having then as tributaries having them as provinces.

Perhaps China finds out Ryukyu is actually Japanese not independent like they were being lied about

Maybe the Qing get annoyed at Korea's use of Ming years and other subversive things.

What would the reaction of Europe be if this was occurring (probably as part of the great campaigns of the Qianlong Emperor)?

If China can annex Korea but not Japan, what's insurmountable? Would they lose even Taiwan?
 
Korea could get annexed during the same conquering stride that allowed the Qing to take over the Ming, but the further you advance in the 18th century the harder it gets.

Qing military power declined fast. The Eight Banners, basically a warrior caste system, works well in a state of constant warfare, but once they transitioned from a tribe confederation into a Empire, they grew fat and corrupt in the space of a few decades. During the reign of Qianlong, a traditionalist who praised the bow over the gun, it may be already too late; and his greats campaigns were actually semi-successes and Pyrrhic victories carefully edited by imperial propaganda. By the end of the century, they couldn't even put down peasant rebellions like the White Lotus. Attempt to invade either Korea or Japan during that time is bound to be either a spectacular failure, or a costly initial victory followed by a local revolt that throw them out, like in Burma or Vietnam. But it may finally forces the Qing to pull their head out of the sand and start modernizing their army organization, so there's a silver lining.

And for European reactions, I don't think anyone would be concerned for the time being, as long as trade goes uninterrupted.
 
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