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I was reading in the cambridge history of Japan that in the late 1930s Japan under colonel Ishiwara was planning on undergoing a five year industrialization plan. However when officers in Manchuria fought with chinese forces his faction wanted Japan not to get involved so soon in a conflict on the continent for it would hurt Japan's militirization plans. However the other faction wanting war to deal a quick win against china won out.
So lets assume Ishiwara's faction wins and war with china is averted. How does Japan develop. What comes out of the five year plan? How different would the pacific theater be and could Japanese entry into WWII against USA be averted? Not to mention with no invasion of china could the Nationalists destroy Mao and the communists for good? Also how does the late 1930s and 40s play out.