Asia for the Asiatics!

Asia for the Asiatics! is the story of the rise of a indepedent, democratic Asia. Primarily, this timeline revolves around the evolution of a democratic PanAsianist Japan that leads the continent to a bright future.

The POV for the timeline is the survival of Itō Hirobumi after the assasination attempt on him in Manchuria on October 26, 1909 fails. As a result, Japan fails to develop into the militarist monarchy it became in the OTL. Instead, it becomes the largest supporter of PanAsianism and the Taisho Democracy era of the 1920s never ends.

Do not edit this timeline. All unauthorized edits will be removed. Comments are welcome however.

Introduction
Itō Hirobumi was a major political figure in early post-Meiji Japanese history. After holding many lower posts, including Home Minister, he became Japan's first prime minister in 1885. During his previous years, he had observed Western institutions and implemented many of them back home in Japan. As a result of his efforts, Japan developed a modern political system. He remained a major political force in Japan until his death in 1909. The last position he held was Resident-General of Korea, a post that essentially oversaw the country while it was a Japanese protectorate. While he did push through the Japanese-Korean Annexation Treaty and other pro-annexation measures, he was personally against annexation. He saw Japan as being the leader of Asia. He believed they should bring Korea, and possibly other Asian territories, unders its influence, but not annex them. His assasination ultimately accelerated the passage of the Annexation Treaty.

In this ATL, what if he had survived and managed to use his political influence, despite the opposition of the Imperial Japanese Army and others, to prevent Korea's annexation, or at least guide it in a new path? In this ATL, he lived and remained a powerful force in Japanese politics. While his opponents would turn out to be too powerful to completely prevent annexation, he would organize a different arrangement. He would create a dynastic union between Japan and Korea. The Emperor of Korea would retain his throne, but Korea would become a autonomous territory of Japan. The Japanese and Korean militaries and diplomacy would be united, but many internal powers would be kept by Korea. A union of this sort was a major idea of many PanAsianists at the time who believed a union of Japan, Korea, and China was the only way to oppose Western imperialism. The creation of this union would both achieve the result of annexation, while maintain nominal Korean independence and preventing the effects of the Japanese occupation. And most importantly, this would deprive the Imperial Japanese Army a major power base and political victory. As a result, the military would slowly slip out of Japanese politics and remain subserviant to the elected Japanese government. This new democratic Japan would soon become determined to liberate Asia as its doctrine of PanAsianism spread.

1909-1920
1909: October 26, Itō Hirobumi survives an assasination attempt in Korea.

1910: Japanese-Korean Union Treaty signed
 * Establishes the semi-autonous Empire of Korea within the Empire of Greater Japan
 * Military and diplomacy under Japanese control
 * Japanese occupation limited to scattered bases throughout the country
 * Signed by Korean Emperor Gojong

1912: Japan begins broadcasting ideas and transmissions about Asian unity and independence
 * Ideas gain strengthen in China, Thailand, and the Phillipines

1914: June 28, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary is assasinated

1914: July 28, World War I Begins

1914: August 23: Japan enters World War I

1914: November 7, German-controlled Tsingtao surrenders; Other German Pacific territories fall easily

1914: Sun Yat-Sen flees China; Founds Chinese Revolutionary Party in Japan 1917: New Republic of China government established in Guangdong by Sun; Supported and recongnized by Japan 1917: Whampoa Military Academy established with Japanese funding to assist in KMT officier training
 * Received support from the Japanese government
 * Almost all former Kuomintang members rejoin
 * Democratic and stable
 * Local warlords quickly incorporated into government

1917: Republican Demands issued by Japan to China 1917: Emperor Yuan abolishes monarchy, but does not hold free and fair elections; angers Japan
 * 1) Readopt the 1912 Constitution
 * 2) Abolish the monarchy
 * 3) Establish a demcracy
 * 4) Allow free, multi-party elections
 * 5) Submit to Japanese protectorateship

1918: War ends; Japan continue to occupy and administer Shandong Peninsula; infuriates Yuan

1918: November, Japan joins the multi-national Siberian Intervention force

1920-1929
1922: Japan withdraws from the Russian Far East; continues to occupy the northern half of Sahklin Island 1923: Chiang Kai-Shek is sent to Japan for military and political training

1924: Election of Katō Komei; Beginning of further democratic reforms

1925: Introduction of universal male suffrage in Japan and Korea

1926: KMT Northern Expedition and Second Sino-Japanese War begin 1927: Battle of Baoding - remiants of Beiyang Army and allied warlords defeated. Northern China comes under KMT control
 * Japan went to war in support of the KMT; invade Manchuria
 * KMT, led by Chiang Kai-Shek, conquer southern China within 9 months
 * Japan conquers Manchuria within 6 months

1927: Shandong returned to KMT control

1927: Japan annexes Manchuria as part of surrender agreement 1929: Meiji Constitution rewritten
 * Last imperial act of Japan in China
 * Meant to appease last of the militarists
 * Sets up republican government
 * Power of the Emperor restricted; subordinate to Parliament and the Cabinet
 * Military put under Parliamentary control
 * Deemphasized the emperor's divinity
 * Great victory for Left; Destroys far-right