AHC: Japan- champion of freedom in Asia

And how about that Japanese Genro's decide during early 1880s that best long-term policy for Japan is to have China and Korea ( and all of Asia eventually ) as independent countries. So, that Japan will try to: a) protect them from Western imperialism, b) free Korea from Chinese suzerainity and c) work on assisting other countries to liberate themselves from European colonial rule?

Seems as plausible?
 
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.

Something like this? Where the PoD a revived & aggressive China by the start of the 20th Century, with the leader/s trying to restore the maximum influence of a imperial China? Japan become a important ally to the preiphrial nations or states , helping them resist China, and then later resist the Europeans?
 
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?

An early decision that Trade is the ultimate goal, and a decision that Japan will never be militarily strong enough to overcome any of the nearby powers. This would involve establishing a government with no role in politics for the military beyond a civilian appointed head of the defence force. I struggle to see how this could evolve of course.

In this way a strong fleet would be a by product of strong trade, not an end in itself. Likewise the Army would never be a political power. A strong fleet would in time make Japan respected and give it an international voice and regional authority.
 
An early decision that Trade is the ultimate goal, and a decision that Japan will never be militarily strong enough to overcome any of the nearby powers. This would involve establishing a government with no role in politics for the military beyond a civilian appointed head of the defence force. I struggle to see how this could evolve of course.

In this way a strong fleet would be a by product of strong trade, not an end in itself. Likewise the Army would never be a political power. A strong fleet would in time make Japan respected and give it an international voice and regional authority.

Seems like a good plan.
 
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.
It's hard to reach any form of rapproachment when you're already occupying parts of their territory, i.e. southern Manchuria and Shandong. Furthermore not sure how a (un)successful Chinese republic is relevant.
 
Seems like a good plan.
Problem is, pre-1945 financial relations around the world was much more fractured as empires were attempting to establish currency-based hegemony, with no sweeping waves towards economic liberalism; either Japan needs to lead Asia towards cooperation or forge stronger alliances with one of the empires, i.e. Britain or the US.
Ironically, Chinese intellectuals began viewing Japan with more respect when they lost during the First Sino-Japanese war; not much offense was taken was defeat was supposedly suffered by the Manchus instead of the Han. So now Japan needs another way to gain the respect of China and the world as a great power...
 
Problem is, pre-1945 financial relations around the world was much more fractured as empires were attempting to establish currency-based hegemony, with no sweeping waves towards economic liberalism; either Japan needs to lead Asia towards cooperation or forge stronger alliances with one of the empires, i.e. Britain or the US.
Ironically, Chinese intellectuals began viewing Japan with more respect when they lost during the First Sino-Japanese war; not much offense was taken was defeat was supposedly suffered by the Manchus instead of the Han. So now Japan needs another way to gain the respect of China and the world as a great power...

Nobody said that Japan will not make war with China. But that will be with a goal of having Korea independent, not with goal of conquest. Also, Japan will not take Port Arthur or Taiwan, but could take other concessions instead ( larger indemnity or free trade with China ). But I think that even such Japan would take a few islands SE of Taiwan, like Orchid and Green Island, to build a naval base there and secure trade route to the South China Sea. Pratas Island also comes to mind.
 
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