The Kaisers Japanese Adventure

I know that after coming to power, Kaiser Wilhem the Second attempted to secure colonial possessions for his new navy including territories in Asia and the Carribean. My question is if, between 1900 and 1913, the Germans had attempted to seize Taiwan or the Ryuku Islands, say after the Boxer Rebellion, from Japan?
 

Sumeragi

Banned
You mean attack the nation that contributed the most forces in putting down the Boxers (taking out the Russian forces in Manchuria), and was also being chummy with the UK? That's just shitty diplomacy, I would say. We would need to butter away the Japanese participation in the Eight Nations Alliance to have at least a shot here.
 
You mean attack the nation that contributed the most forces in putting down the Boxers (taking out the Russian forces in Manchuria)? That's just shitty diplomacy, I would say.
Yeah but Kaiser Wilhem was never known for his diplomatic intelligence. Key example, replacing Bismarck with Caprivi.
 
Wasn't a requirement for either participant of the Anglo-Japanese alliance that they had to be at war with atleast two major powers before they could join in?

gigalocus

In the 1st version, which lasted until 1911 yes that was the case. However that is if the ally is at war with two powers they are committed to joining in to help them. Nothing to stop Britain joining a war on Japan's side if it wants to.

Since Japan is an ally and also Britain is becoming worried about Wilhelm's attitude and naval programme I could easily see at least a call to help our 'gallant allies'. This could include technical help, supplies, funds, etc. Or even some quiet words and naval manouvers in the North Sea that could have interesting effects on German ability to deploy forces, gain loans etc.

Mind you it may not be needed. The front is a lot closer to Japan, which is already recognised as the legal owner of the territory in question. As such, like with the Russian Baltic fleet its going to be a long haul with great fun getting supplies. [I doubt their going to be able to use French colonial ports like the Russians were;)].

Furthermore the date would be important. If before the OTL Russo-Japanese conflict, which could then be butterflied, then the Germans will probably vastly underestimate the Japanese. If after it they will be more cautious and possibly have a larger fleet available but not only will the Japanese also have more ships built for them but they also renovated many of the captured Russian ones.

As such, while Britain probably would step in to some degree or another it may not be needed.

Steve
 
Germany loses, The Royal Navy gets more dreadnoughts...

Actually I don't think Willy will even be able to get this approved by his military, Would Tripitz risk his shiny new dreadnoughts on some silly colonial venture on the other side of the world
 

Cook

Banned
My question is if, between 1900 and 1913, the Germans had attempted to seize Taiwan or the Ryuku Islands, say after the Boxer Rebellion, from Japan?
The result is pretty easy to predict. The Japanese resoundingly won the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 against far larger forces than the Germans could have ever hoped to deploy in the Far East.
 
The Kaiser was a bad diplomat. But he was not stupid. He wouldn´t start a war or even a crisis when every of his advisors would be against it. And even if he would be tempted he was no absolute monarch. For such an adventure he would have needed at least the support of the Reichstag.
 
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