Noted re keeping the strategy realistic, but I think you can permit some flexibility for yourself in that the game almost never represents the game realistically re Japan-China, therefore the strategic situation that prevented Japan attacking Russia, and also (related) them having such power to deploy on the border. Some (not gamey, I agree) adjustment should be reasonable. Such as a contingency plan for a strategic withdrawal to consolidated lines in event of a massive attack. As they were forced to do in Europe against the Germans.
A withdrawal remains a possibility. There will be no 'not one step back' orders, but right now, withdrawal is still a 'worst case scenario'... Some contingencies are (or will be) in place, but there will be no withdrawal without at least attempting to make a stand. I will very probably be using the 'withdraw' stance for Far East AIs, as soon as the situation becomes untenable. I guess we'll see how well that works...
Comrades, if I may make a suggestion? The Fat East Strategy is looking bad because the Japanese could focus much of their mainland forces onto our borders - if it comes to war.
Is there any nations in Asia, right now, that could be influenced to join the Comintern? My idea being that even a small nation could divide the attention of the Japanese forces.
It is, how do the Capitalist say it...a long shot, but I feel it may be something to look into. Just a suggestion.
Besides the fact that the diplomatic influencing of another country through (outside of trade), is probably so expensive in leadership that it becomes counterproductive, as better technology and/or a higher officer ratio would probably do more for our strategic interests once war breaks out... As for possible candidates:
Sinkiang is close enough to join, but their neutrality is too high, so they can't join until war breaks out, unless we start raising threat in the region through espionage which is a dangerous game if you want the region to stay quiet a little while longer... Also, Sinkiang is too far away, as they don't border Japan, nor it's puppets... all they really have to offer is their Army... (Probably half a dozen of mostly Militia Divisions at most, with ancient equipment)...
Communist China is roughly in our corner (not close enough to join, even if their neutrality was lower), but they are actually naturally drifting toward the axis, mostly due to their close proximity to Japanese soil and Japanese puppets Mengkukuo and Manchukuo. Influencing them might get them into our corner (unless the Japs react and pull them the other way...) We could try to close the gap through trade, but that will take time, and/or a huge boost in leadership for diplomatic purposes. Substantially improving relations with Communist China could do the trick.
Tibet and Afghanistan are drifting towards the Comintern on their own, and neither would be of much use.
Guanxi Clique, Yunnan, and Xibei San Ma are firmly in the Axis corner, having both proximity and ideological similarity on their side.
Nationalist China is sort of in the middle, but it is naturally moving towards the Axis, and on top of that, it is being influenced by Germany...
Persia could be swayed through extensive trade but wouldn't be much use...
Looking at the diplomatic picture, it's more likely that a Chinese state will help the Japs fight us than that one will fight the japs on our side...
The only realistic long shot here are the Communist Chinese, and without outright diplomatic influence, they're far from a sure thing...
Getting Sinkiang might help get us a higher 'proximity' to these Chinese states.