Thande
Donor
Okay, we're well used to the idea of a 'Meiji restoration' type event happening in different East Asian countries rather than Japan. It's code for 'modernisation, opening up, limited Westernisation, catching up to the West'. OTL, it happened in Japan but nowhere else to any serious extent - and Japan was the only local power that could not only compete in the Age of Imperialism but stand equal with the Europeans, and eventually push them out altogether (temporarily).
Now we've seen many timelines in which similar events happen in Korea or China or event Vietnam, whatever, in the 1860s but not in Japan. However, my question is this: what would happen if, say, both Japan and Korea were opened up and modernised at about the same time? Or both Japan and China? (Although that's a bit more obvious, as it's unlikely Japan could seriously compete with a well-organised and modernised China).
Do we see attempts at building local solidarity against the West, like a less propagandary version of the old East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere (and genuinely somewhat equal) or do these modernised Asian powers continue fighting each other, in wars which will inevitably become more bloody than OTL Japan's against a weak China and Korea? And how does this affect European trade, exploration and colonisation of the region?
Now we've seen many timelines in which similar events happen in Korea or China or event Vietnam, whatever, in the 1860s but not in Japan. However, my question is this: what would happen if, say, both Japan and Korea were opened up and modernised at about the same time? Or both Japan and China? (Although that's a bit more obvious, as it's unlikely Japan could seriously compete with a well-organised and modernised China).
Do we see attempts at building local solidarity against the West, like a less propagandary version of the old East Asian Co-prosperity Sphere (and genuinely somewhat equal) or do these modernised Asian powers continue fighting each other, in wars which will inevitably become more bloody than OTL Japan's against a weak China and Korea? And how does this affect European trade, exploration and colonisation of the region?