If Japan went to war with China in WW1

This is for a small project of mine.

So, let's start by ignoring everything about the probability of this event.
If Japan would have gone to war with China in 1914, what would their aims have been? Did they want the population-rich and prosperous coastal areas, or did they want areas from the north?
 
This is for a small project of mine.

So, let's start by ignoring everything about the probability of this event.
If Japan would have gone to war with China in 1914, what would their aims have been? Did they want the population-rich and prosperous coastal areas, or did they want areas from the north?

First thing they want is Manchuria. Second thing would be making Chnia kind of an Japanese vassal.

How do you intend to fit them into WWI alliances?
China as a German ally would make some sense (maybe if Willy was more careful with his speeches?) but should be a nightmare for Russia.
 
How do you intend to fit them into WWI alliances?
China as a German ally would make some sense (maybe if Willy was more careful with his speeches?) but should be a nightmare for Russia.

I planned Japan as a German ally.

A German-Japanese treaty signed in 1911: Germany and Japan help each other (Japan conquers China, Germany keeps the Entente busy), Germany gets extended colonies in China (the british colonies and some of the surroundings), Japan gets areas in China (and I'm asking what territories in this thread). Japan doesn't sign the extension to the Anglo-Japanese alliance on the same year and the war begins in 1913-1914.
 
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Would Japan and Germany be willing to sign an alliance with each other? You'd likely have to have a decline in Anglo-Japanese relations at some point prior to WWI...

I could potentially see Germany allying with China, but I can't think of any reasons that Germany and Japan would ally at this time.
 
you could try looking up the demands that japan made on china in their '21 demands', a bit more rejection by the chinese, or less pressure from the Brits and a touch more gung-ho by the Japanese might see war start in 1915.

Brief wiki here :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-One_Demands

Japan, having seized all it could from the Germans decides that its time to continue against China etc. Could still be notionally at war with germany to keep the Entente off its back?
 
you could try looking up the demands that japan made on china in their '21 demands', a bit more rejection by the chinese, or less pressure from the Brits and a touch more gung-ho by the Japanese might see war start in 1915.

Brief wiki here :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-One_Demands

Japan, having seized all it could from the Germans decides that its time to continue against China etc. Could still be notionally at war with germany to keep the Entente off its back?

Why is the wiki page a short explanation of those? Why not just a drawn out list of each 21 demand. How annoying.
 
tuore

That would require a drastic change in the political situation and also be very bad for Japan. It;s a strong regional power but it couldn't afford a war with Britain, Russia and France in that time period. Especially given that Russia has the trans-Siberian - it's big weakness in 04/05 and when Britain and France can spare some ships Japan is very, very vulnerable. Also the alliance with Britain was re-signed in 1911 and about at it's strongest at that time so it would need a major chance in the attitude of both countries.

I think the most likely bet without major and extreme butterflies would be Japan pushing China further in 1916, possibly ending in a war, because Britain and the other Europeans are too busy to seriously intervene. Although even then, with the economic interests several have in China at this time, plus a possibly US reaction. Even presuming Japan could avoid a serious defeat fighting China. [The latter being very large and far less war-torn and battered without a couple of decades of warlordism].

Steve

I planned Japan as a German ally.

A German-Japanese treaty signed in 1911: Germany and Japan help each other (Japan conquers China, Germany keeps the Entente busy), Germany gets extended colonies in China (the british colonies and some of the surroundings), Japan gets areas in China (and I'm asking what territories in this thread). Japan doesn't sign the extension to the Anglo-Japanese alliance on the same year and the war begins in 1913-1914.
 
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