So I was reading the background information
wikipedia gives on the Second East Turkestan Republic, and it seems that Soviet influence in the area was much stronger than I had believed. According to wikipedia, this changed when the strongman in Sinkiang, Sheng Shicai, switched masters (to Nationalist China) after the Soviets looked to be going down after Barberossa was launched. So WI Sheng Shicai stays loyal to Moscow (maybe he has confidence that the Soviets will eventually win in this TL) and Sinkiang continues to follow a similar path to Mongolia, what are the effects?
Would Sinkiang's resources make a big difference for the Soviet economy? Would the lack of those same resources make a big difference to China? How might the region evolve?
And what happens to Tibet? Might it end up independent or end up a Soviet puppet without China controlling the routes into the plateau from the north?
Are Soviet-Indian relations changed by India sharing a border with a puppet? (Between Indian Kashmir and Sinkiang.) Would Sinkiang end up disputing Aksai Chin with India?
How would the Chinese nuclear program evolve without "inheriting" the Soviet nuclear facilities in Sinkiang (where most of the initial work was done, and where much of the Chinese Uranium came)?
Alternatively, what might happen if the second East Turkestan Republic is recognized as an "independent" Soviet puppet by Mao when he wins the civil war? Much less of a geographic/strategic change in Asia, but China would, again, lose out on gaining the Soviet nuclear facilities I mentioned above. Any other effects people can thing of?
fasquardon