DBWI: British win the Opium War?

I think we are forgetting something. The US. How would a weaker China and greater British/European power in Asia affect America? Besides Hawaii, it has always be rivalries in Asia, and it never had the best of luck besides Australia and New Zealand to allied to them. (And that was mosty due to the fall of the UK in the Great European War, and the two nations did not what to say yes to China and it's allies)

Would America have greater say in Asia if the UK won the Opium Wars?
I highly doubt it.The US' separated with Asia by an entire Ocean.It is simply unwise to project power over such a wide distance.Only the inbred European aristocratic establishment was stupid enough to try something like this.You may be able to win a war or two when China's weak,as seen in the French victory during the Indochinese War of 1870,but it will only serve as a catalyst for the Chinese to get stronger.Any attempt to hold sway over part of China's traditional sphere of influence will be a replication of the Second Indochinese War(1890-1892). Unless you are well prepared to maintain an army of at least several hundred thousand soldiers in Asia,there's no way you can do that.If it wasn't for the fact that Australia has uranium,and that New Zealand is directly next to Australia,the US couldn't have bothered with those two.
 
Last edited:
Top