From what I understand, the Japanese sought to expand their Empire in the East Pacific in preparation for a final, apocalyptic clash with the West decades into the future. If they do achieve all their ambitions (Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, Southeast Asia, Bose in control of India, Wang, Prince De, and the Kangde Emperor in control of China) without attacking the U.S., what would the Japanese sphere of influence look like in 1960? How economically integrated would China and the East Indies be with Japan after 20 years? Can we extrapolate GDP for this empire? Would they be able to develop nuclear technology by 1960?
Obviously, this is highly abstracted from the real life flow of events (i.e. whether or not the Japanese could take European colonies in the Pacific without a declaration of war by the U.S.), but I think it's an interesting scenario to explore. Would concerns about nuke-armed communists override rivalry with the Empire of Japan if, lacking direct (or delayed) U.S. intervention, the Soviets seize more of Europe, or would it drive them closer together?
Obviously, this is highly abstracted from the real life flow of events (i.e. whether or not the Japanese could take European colonies in the Pacific without a declaration of war by the U.S.), but I think it's an interesting scenario to explore. Would concerns about nuke-armed communists override rivalry with the Empire of Japan if, lacking direct (or delayed) U.S. intervention, the Soviets seize more of Europe, or would it drive them closer together?