Peshawar Lancers Redux: Asia

[chris N]

The miniseries The Fall stired interest in Japan at looking at what the Imperial government was doing and what had not been shown in the series.Japan became for a time the Empire of the Rising Sun and its key mission was to gain territory to insure the survival of the Japanese people. The Empire waged a war that resulted in the capture of Formosa and Hainan Islands . It also began the conquest of China.

 

[chris N]

The result of the airing of the series episode involving the Japanese conquest of a lot of China saw antiJapanese demonstrations in the Republic of China. The Chinese government attempted to calm matters but demonstrations continued resulted in the unleasing of special police units.

 

[chris N]

The Government of the Republic of China was attempting to calm thing and end the attacks on Japanese Businesses inside China. There was a massive protest in Shanghai and the Government deployed Army units to back up the riot police. In Peking anti and Pro-Japanese Chinese groups battled in the streets. The Governor request military forces and the Chinese President deployed the 43rd Infantry Division to the city.

 

[chris N]

The Government of Japan was beginning to lose its paitence with the Chinese Government. As a result it issued an advusory calling for all Japanese Citizens to leave China. It also was prepared to demand that all Japanese business close in China.

 

[chris N]

Japanese businesses closed in China. Many were located in the formerly Japanese controlled region. This resulted in more clashes between the Han Chinese and the southern Chinese. The Manchurian border was closed and Japanese troops took up defensive positions. Japanese Ships arrived at Hainan Island and began to evacuate all Japanese citizens still living on the island.

 

[chris N]

Japan recalled its Ambassador to china to express its continued displeasure with the way things were going. The Imperial Navy made its presence known but Japan was always careful to make sure that things did not go to far as to possibly trigger hostilities.

 

[chris N]

Japan's relationship with the Republic of China continued to be cold. Trade between both nations had fallen by 90%. Both the Kingdom of Hawaii and the United States attempted to improve relations between the two but the only easing was in military tensions.

 

[chris N]

China and Japan's Foreign Ministers met in Hong Kong. The meeting lasted 5 days before both left to return to their respective countries. A further meeting was to be held in Hanoi in 4 weeks. Progress had been made and there was belief that an agreement could be reached.

 

[chris N]

With encouragement from the Hawaiians,British and Americans the governments of China and Japan were finally able to resolve their differences. Japan sent its Ambassador back to China. The Chinese government reimbursed a number of Japanese businesses that had been damaged in the anti -Japanese riots. Only a small fraction of the Japanese companies that had plants in China reopened.

 

[chris N]

Japanese companies had been drawn to Vietnam, which was offeering many opotunties and tax advantages. The Vietnamese government was attempting to build up an industrial base so as to be better able to stand up to China.

 

[chris N]

Relations between China and Japan had improved but Japanese companies only reopened a few plants in China. Some had equipment removed and would never reopen. Those that had reopened were located in Han areas that were friendly to Japan. Still Japan had shifted to Vietnam..

 

[chris N]

Looking back to the Administration of President Theodore Roosevelt III one could see that the United States was beginning to support China in its struggle to regain control over its territory. The Chinese had purchased two old US battleships from the Smith Administration. This had resulted in strained relations with Japan. China was seeking to
buy additional vessels from the US as that country modernized its Navy.
Japan was facing a struggle between the UltraNationalist and the more moderate elements over the direction of the Empire.

 

[chris N]

The Empire of Japan was attempting to gain influence in the Republic of the Philippine. It would also like to establish a naval base in the Country. Hawaii had established a small naval base at Subic Bay and had used that location for the past 40 years. It had helped to train the Philippines Naval forces. The United States had been intereted in taking over the Hawaiian facility and was offering a lot of funds to improve the country.

 

[chris N]

The Government of the Republic of China lobbied the members of the US Senate to get the Senate to approve the sale of 2 battleships to the Republic of China. Out of the 96 Senators 22 Liberal Democrat Party Members and 8 Nationalist had agreed with the motion. Opposed were 32 Nationalist. Still to vote were 2 Liberal Democrats and 22 Nationalist.

 

[chris N]

The revised Bill which passed the Senate without any veto from the President was in response to Japan's building of 2 super battleships. The President asked the Congress to approve construction of 2 more improved North Carolina class battleships. The navy was also working on a new design for a faster battleship.

 

[chris N]

The United States establishment of two bases in the Philippines concern he Japanese Government. The government of the Republic of China was assured by this move that the US might finally be tilting toward China. The Dutch were now feeling much safer with the appearance of American Naval forces closer to its colony.

 

[chris N]

Japan's Foreign Minister met with the Hawaiian Secretary of State to discuss the new US Bases in the Philippines. Japan wanted Hawaii's assurance that it did not believe that the US was threatening Japan. The Secretary stated that it was Hawaii's belief that the US was not in any way making a hostile move. The Secretary delivered a encoded message to the Hawaiian Prime Minister.

 

[chris N]

In China the forces of the Republic of China and those of the Empire of Japan clashed in a series of border clashes. This clash also spread to a clash at sea which resulted in the Japanese sinking a Chinese Battle ship and 3 destroyers. The Former Arkansas was sunk by the Japanese Kongo but not before the Chinese ship scored ten hits on the Kongo.
The former Wyoming was sunk by a Japanese submarine. British and Hawaiian diplomats were able to get a cease fire after the Chinese regained territory lost.

 

[chris N]

China now had the three ex US Navy New Mexico class Battleships but it was also seeking more modern destroyers and destroyer escorts from the US. It had purchased nearly 250,000 US made rifles along with Bars, 30 and 50 caliber Machine guns and Thompson SMG. Nearly 100 M-3 Stuarts were purchased and a similar number of M-3 Lees.

 

[chris N]

Britain and Hawaii were encouraging the Japanese and Chinese governments to resolve issues diplomatically rather than through military conflict. The US also agreed with this position. In Japan the right wing was urging a strike against China but the Moderates were resisting and seemed to have gained support from the Emperor.