Requested by @AOEplayer2 BACKSTORY: The Ming dynasty was on its deathbed, rebellions and internal strife caused the Ming to suffer devastating losses at the hands of the Manchu rebels in North Western China. The Ming, desperate for victory, decided to let the military lead the government to suppress rebellions. After reorganizing the military and spending money on European weapons and advisors, the Ming launched a massive counterattack to push the Ming back. After both sides suffered heavy casualties from the counterattack, and along with a grueling, unfruitful stalemate, the Manchus signed a peace deal with the Ming. The Ming along with the Mongols and Tibetans, allied in order to encircle the newly formed Qing dynasty. This brought the Qing to be closer to Russia, but with the Soviets in power, the Qing had to find new allies... Who shall win the Chinese Cold War?
TIMELINE: 1644 - Ming and Manchu rebels sign the treaty of Nanjing. 1678 - The Ming and Mongol states form an alliance to isolate the Qing. 1705 - The Qing and Joseon forms a defensive alliance and nonaggression pact with Russia in exchange for some lands in Manchuria to be ceded and for 18% of all natural resources in Manchuria to be Russian. 1839 - First Opium War, this causes the century of humiliation for both the Qing and Ming. 1856 - Second Opium War, the Ming is now a puppet state for European powers. 1894 - The Manchu-Japanese War breaks out causing the Qing to lose access to Korea. 1911 - The Ming collapses as rebellions spread across the lands, the Republic of China is formed but is unstable with warlords and communists running around. 1918 to 1925 - The Russian Monarchy collapses causing the Russian Civil War, Manchuria is a battleground state between Communists, Whites, Japs, and the Qing. The Qing comes on top as British and American troops are deployed to fight the Communists and block the Japs. 1931 - Japanese invasion of the Qing, the Qing loses Manchuria and the royal family flees to Beijing and several Qing holdings in other areas of China. 1937 to 1945 - Japan invades the rest of the Qing strongholds and the Republic of China, but in 1945, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki along with the Soviet invasion of Manchuria and Korea forces the Japanese to surrender. During the war, the Japanese capture and execute the Qing royal family. The Soviets forms a puppet state in Manchuria, due to heavy military reforms in the Republic of China and US aid, the Soviets are unable to support a civil war in China. Along with increased division with the national identity between Manchus and Hans, it was better to form a nation in the North. Communist forces migrate up there such as Mao Zedong to form the Democratic People's Republic of China. During the Cold War - the Korean War prompts a standoff between both Chinas. The Vietnam War is won by the South as the Northern Chinese forces and Russian forces are unable to fund the communists. Russia increases attention more on the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia more causing consequences to this day. 1991 - The Soviet Union collapses. Now - The Communist dominated Northern China and Democratic dominated South China fight for hegemony of the Chinese nation. The North aims to unite China and Tibet under one communist banner whereas the South aims to keep the people separate and form ties with the US.