Maximum extent of the IJN?

To what degree could the IJN expand to in the best circumstances? Use any POD you like provided we get a world that's at least recognizably comparable to OTL.
 
1899 -- POD
Japan buys the Minor Spanish Islands instead of OTL's German purchase.

1899~1905
the IJN expands slightly over OTL due to the need to protect new territories, This includes a Major increase in the IJN Marine Force, to prevent the Army from taking over the Islands.

1905 -- Russo/Japan War
The IJN uses it's new Marines to attack north of Vladivostok to cut the Trans Siberian, and to Land On the north end of Sakhalin.

1906 -- Treaty of Plymouth
OTL except Japan gets all of Sakhalin.

1914 -- WW1
Japan takes German China, and a few minor German islands, but Germany doesn't have much outside of New Guinea and Bismark Islands, which Australia takes.
Instead the IJN sends more Ships than OTL, and sends some Troops [Marines] to take part in Anti - Ottoman Fighting.

1919 -Russian Civil War
Japanese Duma turns down US request to sent Troops to help evacuate the Czech Legion.

1921 -- Quake
IJN uses it's ships to rush Food and other aid to the stricken areas, Gaining much Face among the population.

1922 -- Washington Naval Treaty
Japan holds out for parity with the US and GB. Thro Battles with the IJA will prevent the IJN from Building up to this limit.

1932 -- Manchuria
Japan announces a protectorate over Manchuria.

1935 --War of the Wall
As OTL, Japan wins and sets the Great Wall as the Southern Border of Manchuria. Due to the Action of some Junior officers, both services start a Crackdown on Control and Discipline, with in the Ranks.

1936 -- No War
Due the increased Discipline, there is no Attack of the Bridge, and no War with China.

1937 -- Budget wars
With No War with China to allow the Army to Soak up the larger part of the Budget, citing the increased tensions in Europe the IJN begins a major Expansion.

1938~39
With No War in China, the US does not impose a Steel Embargo, and Japan expands the Ship Building program to the Merchant Marine.

1940 -- WW2
Japan informs the US and GB that due to the War in Europe, It is withdrawing from the WNT, and beginning a rebuilding of it's non Mainland Fortifications.

1946 -- WW2
WW 2 Ends with Most of Europe in Ruins, and the British Empire Bankrupt.
Phillipines Independent

1949 -- Korea
The intensive Capital Development of Korea begins to pay off as the New steelworks and Shipyards begin to turn out product.

1950
Japan's GNP, exceeds Britain's for the first time.
Japan leases a several Naval Bases in the Philippines, and the DEI

1950's
With Britain Bankrupt, the IJN begins taking the place of the RN as the Patroller of the Seas.

1960's --
Japan builds the first Nuclear powered Ship, within several years Japan will rebuild it's remaining Battleships with Nuclear Power plants.
This will prompt the US to rebuild it's Montana class BB's with Nuke plants.

1970's
Japan sends Troops to intervene in Colonial Riots in Indo China and Indonesia.

1980's
IJN Commander Wannabe is first Asian to set foot on the moon.
 
With no Asian theatre in WWII, Britain will be vastly better off - and the crucial loss of face that destroyed the Empire won't occur. I'd expect that Britain would remain east of Suez in this TL, and withdrawal from Malaya will be greatly delayed.
 
My best guess in this is that Japan could have avoided much of the troubles it got into, as early as in the late 19th century. After the US forced commercializing and trade agreement, Japan could have done itself a favour in joining in the international economic and political system of global trade and knowledge, while also maintaining its revised cultural heritage.

This could be done, together with the modernizing of its armed forces, but staying a bit more passive in international political affairs. (appart from the Russian War in 1904, as this was caused by a great deal due to the Russian aggression in the Far East.) As an ally of the UK and staying outside most conflicts, while also staying outside China, since Manchuria itself was far more profitable to be developped first, Japan could be as well be an Allied nation to the Allies in WW2. First of all the Army was to stay out of the government.

With the additions of some minor islands and archipellae in the Pacific, after the loss of Germany in the Great War, Japan could have concided with wath it had and develope an economic boost, just like historically after WW2. Modern Japan could well have been equal to the USA in almost every respect, beside size and raw resources.
 
After the US forced commercializing and trade agreement, Japan could have done itself a favour in joining in the international economic and political system of global trade and knowledge, while also maintaining its revised cultural heritage.


Good grief... You're writing as if japan actually had a say in what happened to it between roughly 1850 and 1900...

Check out this link to learn about how Japan "joined" the "international economic system of global trade and knowledge" during the Meiji Era.

They're not called the Unequal Treaties for nothing.

Japan had to assert itself in order not to remain a whipping boy and economic colony of the European powers. The fact that it kept on asserting itself after finally gaining something resembling diplomatic equality isn't too surprising.


Bill
 
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