Japan Doesn't Attack China?

[EmperorBatman999]

Apologies if this has been posted before.

I am currently playing Manchukuo and I am currently looking for a good opportunity to break free of the Japanese. I was hoping that the war with China would tie up sufficient Japanese forces that I could get away with my break for freedom. I am playing on Ahistorical Focus as I feel that if I'm going to be breaking history, it seems odd for other countries to be locked into their own historical paths.

The problem is that it is 1938, and the Marco Polo Bridge Incident has not been taken yet. Japan has locked into the correct political tree for it, but rather than following the Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, they have suddenly instead ran for the naval tree.

In the previous tree prior to Cornflakes, Japan always did Marco Polo and then War with China, even on Ahistorical. This situation is rather frustrating for me, and I hope that Japan will eventually fight China...if China has not become too strong by the time Japan gets around to attacking it.

 

[Agiknight]

You are certain they took "Purge the Kodaba Faction"? They cannot take Marco Polo Bridge Incident if they go down any other path.

 

[EmperorBatman999]

You are certain they took "Purge the Kodaba Faction"? They cannot take Marco Polo Bridge Incident if they go down any other path.

Yes, they did the Purge the Kodaba Faction and have thus remained fascist. They have just avoided the Co-Prosperity Sphere and ran down a different tree instead.

 

[JaggedyJack]

I have noticed with historical AI off that Japan, if it goes down the Purge Kodaba NF, will delay invading China till early 1938. They seem to focus more on industry and a general build up for much longer than with historical AI on.

 

[Hopit]

As silly as it sounds, a late war between China and Japan is actually a good thing for you as Manchukuo. It means China is in a stronger position than it would be at 1937 and should hold out better when the war does break out.