WI Chinese 'Meji'

Lets say that the Chinese Empire goes through a revolution similar in principle to the Meiji Revolution in the 1860s, and the results are also similar, with a China on the road to modernization.

How can this come about? What would the effects of a modernized and efficient China have on Asia and the world?

EDIT: I know I spelt it wrong, I was in a rush.
 
I don't know much about China's history, but given its size and resources I'd say they could have become quite an Asian powerhouse. Perhaps if we had a bit more liberal Qing dynasty or a Meiji type(s) figure leading the way it would have been possible.
 
Well, an obvious effect is the lack of a Communist China, or at least an extremely weakened Chinese Communist Party which will never really get as far as it did in OTL.

I imagine the Chinese might manage to hold onto Manchuria, let alone managing to resist the Japanese.

While the timeline of the restoration, I think, makes it too far along for China to keep a hold of Korea, I imagine there might be some incident where China and Japan struggle for control of the Korean peninsula. Might make for an interesting war.

I think that China, in a stronger state, might join up with the Central Powers in World War I, in order to take on Japan.

The fronts that would be fought in that war would make for an interesting story...

The Russian Front.

The Indian Front.

The Indochina Front.

The Polynesia Front.

And, of course, The Japanese Front.

A strong China's entrance into WWI on the side of the Central Powers could, obviously, drastically alter the course of the war. A couple hundred thousand American doughboys are nothing compared to a couple million screaming Chinamen.

I can see Russia giving up large portions of Siberia, especially the region south of the Amur River, to China, and possibly Central Asia as well.

I can see Sakhalin and possibly Hokkaido islands given up to China from Japan.

I can see French Indochina given to China.

I can see Siam annexed, possibly.

I can see Burma given to China, possibly Nepal and Bhutan, but certainly not India nor Pakistan. I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to try to administrate that while already administrating all that.

I imagine, however, that China might demand the Independence of India and possibly Pakistan.

On that note, they might just demand the independence of Central Asian countries, rather than out-right taking them from Russia, the same applying to French Indochina, and a Sphere of Interest in Siam rather than annexation.

I can see Singapore handed over to China though, and possibly given either to Chinese controlled Siam, or given independence.

The same independence idea applies to the Philippines (Assuming the USA enters a drastically different war) and Borneo, as well.

This is, of course, completely disregarding the fact that Germany might be inclined to take these colonial possessions as her own. However, I would think that Germany might acknowledge China's assistance in the war, and might grant her some favors in the peace treaty.

Hmm... I might start writing this, actually.
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
I am not sure the Chinamen would want Hokkaido and Sakhalin from Japan when they could grab Korea (and retake Taiwan of course). Then again what would happen if the new strong modernized Chinese nation was on the losing side (say Central Powers lost the war anyways).
 
I am not sure the Chinamen would want Hokkaido and Sakhalin from Japan when they could grab Korea (and retake Taiwan of course). Then again what would happen if the new strong modernized Chinese nation was on the losing side (say Central Powers lost the war anyways).

Did I forget to put in Korea in that list?

Also, last I checked, Taiwan was taken during the collapse of the Qing dynasty, same as Manchuria. With no collapse of the Qing dynasty, there, really, will be no taking of Formosa nor Manchuria.

And I doubt with the reinforcement of a couple million screaming Chinamen against the Russians, French, and British (All on Colonial fronts, of course, but still.) that the war could be easily lost by the Central Powers. I imagine that with a modern Chinese navy possibly controlling the Pacific, if it is not defeated by an equally modern Japanese navy, the United States would be less than enticed to join the war, which was, in reality, one of the major reasons the Central Powers lost WWI.

EDIT: Sinowank FTW.
 
A Chinese version of the Meji restoration will drastically alter history. The Chinese army and navy will be bigger, stronger and more modern. Japan is a rising power too. I foresee interesting conflicts in the future. I doubt that the first Sino-Japanese will be such an easy victory for Japan as IOTL although I don't think the Chinese will defeat the Japanese very easily either. A stalemate is more likely. Maybe the British will mediate in the conflict to make China acknowledge Korean 'independence'.

China will be driven right into the arms of the Central Powers. The consquences for WW1 could be severe. Imagine hordes of screaming Chinamen pouring into Russia, India,Korea and French-Indochina. A few million Chinese will make the Americans think twice before doing anything stupid.

Russia will have to fight a two front war. They'll be beaten even worse than IOTL. As a result the Russians might already surrender in 1916. This will make a German victory on the western front much more likely. The Autro-Hungarians will be under less pressure. The Austro-Hungarian Empire might be able to keep on existing. The Ottoman Empire already was going down. WW1 just sped up the process but in this TL Ataturk might be able to hold onto all territory belonging to the Ottomans.

China will probably gobble up French-Indochina and demand independence for British India. Korea will become a Chinese puppet and it'll be formerly annexed shortly after that.

If the Central Powers somehow manage to screw up then we could get an entirely different WW2. Maybe Japan will be part of the allies instead so they can gobble up more Chinese territory and China will join the axis. The war could turn very ugly for the Soviets.
 
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