China modernizes in the 1800s

Gnomepilled

Gnomepilled

The biggest fear of the 1800s was the fear of China and to an extent Asia modernizing. They were actually terrified at this prospect. This was called the Yellow Peril. Nicholas II was goaded into the war with Japan by Wilhelm II to "save the white race".
Note this thread doesn't endorse 1800s racism and the Chinese are not evil.
 
elerosse

elerosse

Qing China had some fundamental issues with its political structure that prevented it from making radical political changes that would necessitate an industrial modernization. OTL was more or less what it could have achieved, maybe not lose the Sino-Japanese War, but nothing to prevent it from been inefficient and backwards well into the 20th century. To have China truly transform its country Meiji-style, you would need a different ruling dynasty on top, maybe a TL where Shun won the struggle of the Middle Kingdom in 17th century, or a vastly alternative and successful Taiping Rebellion. Regardless, by 20th century, all imperial rule neither Manchu nor Han could escape the wave of revolution, and a Republic of some sort would most likely arise from the downfall of a two thousand years old imperial tradition.
 
Fatt Shea

Fatt Shea

Edit your question to include when in the 1800s they do this if they do it in the 1810d they probably end up being one the of the most powerful countries on earth by 1890 if they start in the 1890s then obviously that will not be the case
 
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