AHC: Japan- champion of freedom in Asia

So, how could we get Japan that is a champion of decolonisation in Asia, but without having colonies of it's own, like Taiwan and Korea?
 
Maybe have them lose against a much stronger Qing, and then later on become partners with China in exchange for influence over decolonized countries?
 
They need to collaborate with China and Korea instead of trying to undermine them. Losing the First Sino-Japanese War along with some other humiliating deals with the West may do the trick
 
Maybe have them lose against a much stronger Qing, and then later on become partners with China in exchange for influence over decolonized countries?

They need to collaborate with China and Korea instead of trying to undermine them. Losing the First Sino-Japanese War along with some other humiliating deals with the West may do the trick

Yeah, that might do the Trick. Virtue out nescessity.

Are you claiming that Japan is inherently militaristic and cannot be anything else without losing a war? What if those "humiliating deals" end up driving resentment and making the situation worse?
 
Are you claiming that Japan is inherently militaristic and cannot be anything else without losing a war? What if those "humiliating deals" end up driving resentment and making the situation worse?
Yes to the first question. And these humiliating deals *will* be making the situation worse in the eyes of the West to the second question. OTL this transpired as Japan invading Manchuria and later mainland China, TTL this becomes Japan/China/Korea forming a united front against Western imperialism.
 
They need to collaborate with China and Korea instead of trying to undermine them. Losing the First Sino-Japanese War along with some other humiliating deals with the West may do the trick

I think it could be a later POD. If the Chinese Revolution doesn't lead to 30 years of civil war, China and Japan may well ally against the western imperialists. Sorry Korea!
 
I think it could be a later POD. If the Chinese Revolution doesn't lead to 30 years of civil war, China and Japan may well ally against the western imperialists. Sorry Korea!
When Korea was annexed in 1910 it was with southern Manchuria as a sphere of influence in consideration, which is Chinese territory. Either China and Japan need to agree to leave Korea neutral, or divide it amongst themselves.
 
They were seen as this by many right until the invasion of Manchuria - the Indian nationalist poet Rabindranath Tagore, for instance, saw them as a strong, Asian, country which could help India, until 1931 led him to realize that it was just another colonial power no better than Britain.
 
Obviously, Japan here would need to be sincere about fight for liberation, meaning that they don't want to replace Western imperialism with Japanese imperialism.
 
When Korea was annexed in 1910 it was with southern Manchuria as a sphere of influence in consideration, which is Chinese territory. Either China and Japan need to agree to leave Korea neutral, or divide it amongst themselves.

Obviously there is no way for this informal sphere of influence to be removed without a bloody war. Why, one might as well imagine a demilitarized US-Canadian border, or France voluntarily abandoning the Saar!
 
Obviously there is no way for this informal sphere of influence to be removed without a bloody war. Why, one might as well imagine a demilitarized US-Canadian border, or France voluntarily abandoning the Saar!

Considering OTL events, most probable development would be that China is ejected from Korea after a war ( like OTL Sino-Japanese War ), but after that, Japan leaves Korea ( or leaves a few garrisons neaw Yalu river to protect Korea from Chinese return ). But, Korea remains independent country. Next rival for influence is Russia. Here Japan can again play role of protector of China ( in manchuria ) and Korea from Russian encroachment. Russian attempts to get a concession for Manchurian Railway could be a great opportunity for that.
 
Obviously there is no way for this informal sphere of influence to be removed without a bloody war. Why, one might as well imagine a demilitarized US-Canadian border, or France voluntarily abandoning the Saar!
and that's why I suggested the POD be Japan losing the first sino-japanese war..?
 
and that's why I suggested the POD be Japan losing the first sino-japanese war..?

My examples suggest I was being sarcastic.

Japan in OTL's 1920s was not aggressively expanding, and tried to reach a rapproachment with Chinese nationalism. And this was without a successful Chinese Republic.
 
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