European terroritories seem harder to capture and hold, and Russia seemed able to take Central Asia without breaking a sweat.
In some cases taking Asia territories might be easier. Since the Qing Dynasty perfered swords over guns, Peter the Great would have had technology advantage (But remember, When Peter the Great was fighting the Europe, the Qing was led by Kun Ci, one of the greatest emperor in Qing dynasty) But beside the technology advantage, Russia face superior numbers (maybe not by much) and Qing soldiers fighting to defend their homeland.
Russia has been prettymuch always a European power, despite it's present-day territory is located in Asia for the greater part. However:
- Russians are ethnically, linguistically and also religiously affiliated with Europe, not with (Eastern) Asia.
- the majority of the Russian population lives in Europe, not in Asia, and Russia's capital city is also loccated in Europe.
Hence I would argue, it's almost impossible for Russia to be viewed as an Asian power by present-day.
Russia has been prettymuch always a European power, despite it's present-day territory is located in Asia for the greater part. However:
- Russians are ethnically, linguistically and also religiously affiliated with Europe, not with (Eastern) Asia.
- the majority of the Russian population lives in Europe, not in Asia, and Russia's capital city is also loccated in Europe.
Hence I would argue, it's almost impossible for Russia to be viewed as an Asian power by present-day.
Russia has been prettymuch always a European power, despite it's present-day territory is located in Asia for the greater part. However:
- Russians are ethnically, linguistically and also religiously affiliated with Europe, not with (Eastern) Asia.
- the majority of the Russian population lives in Europe, not in Asia, and Russia's capital city is also loccated in Europe.
Hence I would argue, it's almost impossible for Russia to be viewed as an Asian power by present-day.
You have to remember that Russian army victoriously beaten by Chinese (according to Chinese version of history) was in fact small group of Cossacks and armed profiteers (couple of hundreds strong at most), cut by thousands of miles of taiga from Russian mainlands, which would not be considered "fighting force" in Russia proper.But beside the technology advantage, Russia face superior numbers (maybe not by much) and Qing soldiers fighting to defend their homeland.
What if Peter the Great decided to focus on non-European territories and try not to have Russia as an European power at all?