Could Japanese militarism have survived?

[BlackMage]

Under what circumstances could the Japanese militarist regime of WW2 have survived? I'm essentially describing the continued survival of the Taisei Yokusankai, or Imperial Rule Assistance Association.

Obviously, defeat by America must be avoided; there's no way America would have let the authoritarian regime survive. For THAT reason, war with America must be avoided, because I think it's generally considered that Japan could never win, at least against an America any of us recognise. But if Japan hadn't entered the war, could their regime have survived? Was war with Japan inevitable? Had Japan avoided defeat, could Japanese fascism have survived to this day?

Thoughts?

 

[Wendell]

Under what circumstances could the Japanese militarist regime of WW2 have survived? I'm essentially describing the continued survival of the Taisei Yokusankai, or Imperial Rule Assistance Association.

Obviously, defeat by America must be avoided; there's no way America would have let the authoritarian regime survive. For THAT reason, war with America must be avoided, because I think it's generally considered that Japan could never win, at least against an America any of us recognise. But if Japan hadn't entered the war, could their regime have survived? Was war with Japan inevitable? Had Japan avoided defeat, could Japanese fascism have survived to this day?

Thoughts?

I think that the Japanese militarist regime could have survived if they did not attack the British, Dutch, and American possessions in the Pacific. For how long after though, I d not know. Presumably, the war in China would not end quickly.

 

[BlackMage]

I think that the Japanese militarist regime could have survived if they did not attack the British, Dutch, and American possessions in the Pacific. For how long after though, I d not know. Presumably, the war in China would not end quickly.

Well, I suppose they could have attacked Dutch and French possessions, since by not attacking American possessions they could avoid bringing America into the war. However, it's a common opinion that Hitler was bound to declare war on America sooner or later.

A way to prevent the Nazi-Japanese Axis would be a few earlier victories for the Nationalists in China, thus causing Hitler to throw his lot in with Chinese forces (indeed, relations between the two were relatively cordial in the early Nazi days). In that case, we could either see a neutral, militarist Japan, content with attacking China, or (even more interestingly) an Allied Japan.

If the Americans don't enter the war, however, Japan could seize the initiative by taking the Dutch East Indies and French Indochina, presuming that the Nazis manage to secure a negotiated peace with Britain. In that case, the Empire of Japan would be a very significant figure in global affairs...

 

[Wendell]

Well, I suppose they could have attacked Dutch and French possessions, since by not attacking American possessions they could avoid bringing America into the war. However, it's a common opinion that Hitler was bound to declare war on America sooner or later.

A way to prevent the Nazi-Japanese Axis would be a few earlier victories for the Nationalists in China, thus causing Hitler to throw his lot in with Chinese forces (indeed, relations between the two were relatively cordial in the early Nazi days). In that case, we could either see a neutral, militarist Japan, content with attacking China, or (even more interestingly) an Allied Japan.

If the Americans don't enter the war, however, Japan could seize the initiative by taking the Dutch East Indies and French Indochina, presuming that the Nazis manage to secure a negotiated peace with Britain. In that case, the Empire of Japan would be a very significant figure in global affairs...

A Nazi-alligned Nationalist China will make things with the USSR and Indochina very interesting.