No connection to the book, other the fact that the map looks oddly similar.
Anyway, ITTL, there is a relatively strong, relatively unified central government in China in the inter-war period (don't ask me how). This precludes the Japanese from invading haphazardly in mid '37. If this also requires a marginally better control of the Kwantung Amrmy by the gov't in Tokyo, so be it.
Border clashes between Japan and its two big neighbors, China and the USSR, occur in ever increasing intensity in the run up to the war.
Germany continues its friendly cooperation with China, absent the Second Sino-Japanese War.
Late summer '39 sees a major clash between Japan and the Soviets in Manchuria. Unlike OTL however, the Japanese actually commit instead of holding back, and thus score a victory. The conflict escalates almost along the entire border.
Meanwhile, Germany invades Poland, and not wanting to be left out, Stalin follows suit, despite conflict still raging in the east. Poland is taken.
Weary of launching yet another operation while still busy with the Baltic countries, garrisoning eastern Poland and most importantly fighting the Japanese, Stalin delays any push into Finland until the spring of 1940, and times the attack to coincide with TTL's Op. Weserubung.
Unlike OTL though, Weserubung fails ITTL, but Sweden somehow gets dragged into the conflict as well, with British units crossing the border from Narvik and advancing on the iron mines forcing their hand.
Shortly before Op. Sickle Cut, the Allies launch Op. Pike, whilst also signing an alliance with Japan, as well as sending an expeditionary corp to Finland via Sweden. The bombing of the oil fields is only marginally successful though.
Sickle Cut goes ahead, and soon German soldiers are marching in Paris. Despite having to join the side including the communists, Mussolini senses a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and declares war on Britain and France despite being militarily unprepared.
ITTL, French politics is somewhat different during their collapse, and the legitimate government decides to carry on fighting from Northern Africa, and retain the allegiance of their colonies. The Nazis meanwhile install a puppet gov't in France.
With France occupied and the Japanese fully engaged against the Soviets, the Chinese decide its now or never and cross into both Manchuria (which they view as legitimate Chinese territory) as well as Indochina (Vietnam used to be a Chinese vassal up until recently). They also besiege Hong Kong.
With France being stubborn in resisting despite having their country occupied (and thus not having to worry about the interests of the Vichy French gov't), Hitler decided to promise Franco whatever he wants to hear (including allowing the invasion of Portugal), and Spain also joins TTLs Axis. German Fallschirmjaeger are quickly transported to Spanish Morocco to help hold the line until reinforcements arrive.
hoping to score a victory of his own, Benny the Moose tries to strongarm Greece, but his coup the main fails and his forces get bogged down in the mountains near the border.
In the Middle East, Stalin decides its time to stop the bombing raids threatening to cut off the lifeblood of his economy (i.e. the exposed Baku oilfields) and has the Red Army push into Iran and Turkey after both refuse to cooperate.
Lastly, the deteriorating international situation brings the Iraqi coup forward, and Rashid Ali's Irak joins the fight against Britain.
How does this end up?