So I've been reading more about the Soviet involvement in Mongolia and Sinkiang, both of which were almost Republics of the USSR during the pre-war period. It has gotten me wondering about what might happen if the USSR got more involved in China either before or after the China-Japan war started. For example an attempt to turn Manchuria into a Socialist state either before the Japanese make their move or after the Japanese had turned Manchuria into a puppet. Or if the Soviets had gone after Tibet or Inner Mongolia. Or even tried to nibble at the Chinese heartlands (highly unlikely IMO - such a course of action would be very costly and have little chance of success - even in a situation where "success" was defined mostly in ideological terms).
How might the world react if they did?
Japan almost certainly ends up in a war with the Soviets if the Soviets preempt them in Manchuria and certainly ends up in a war if the Soviets try to take Manchuria from them after 1931. What are the chances of a Japanese-Soviet war shaping up if the Soviets restrict their efforts to Inner Mongolia and Tibet?
What about the reaction of the Chinese Communists and the KMT? I am inclined to think both would protest, but fight against the Soviets, unless they intervened in the Chinese heartlands themselves. On the other hand, a three cornered war between China, the Soviets and the Japanese where each was fighting the other would make for a very interesting ATL...
What is the reaction of the rest of the world likely to be? I suspect that most of Europe and the Americas would condemn the Soviets with words, but take no action against them. Britain might be the exception, but I can't see the British doing anything beyond giving covert aid to anti-Soviet forces if the Soviets went into Tibet. This could, however, mean the Soviets don't become a member of the League of Nations. Might that have any knock-on effects?
And what sort of effects would a Soviet-Japanese war in the 1930s have on the rise of Hitler and WW2?
fasquardon
How might the world react if they did?
Japan almost certainly ends up in a war with the Soviets if the Soviets preempt them in Manchuria and certainly ends up in a war if the Soviets try to take Manchuria from them after 1931. What are the chances of a Japanese-Soviet war shaping up if the Soviets restrict their efforts to Inner Mongolia and Tibet?
What about the reaction of the Chinese Communists and the KMT? I am inclined to think both would protest, but fight against the Soviets, unless they intervened in the Chinese heartlands themselves. On the other hand, a three cornered war between China, the Soviets and the Japanese where each was fighting the other would make for a very interesting ATL...
What is the reaction of the rest of the world likely to be? I suspect that most of Europe and the Americas would condemn the Soviets with words, but take no action against them. Britain might be the exception, but I can't see the British doing anything beyond giving covert aid to anti-Soviet forces if the Soviets went into Tibet. This could, however, mean the Soviets don't become a member of the League of Nations. Might that have any knock-on effects?
And what sort of effects would a Soviet-Japanese war in the 1930s have on the rise of Hitler and WW2?
fasquardon