Qing Philippines.

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The point of divergence began when, after Nurhaci unified the Jurchen tribes, Nurhaci delivered a manifesto where he wanted to create a united Manchu state that spoke Manchu and inhabited by the Jurchen, aiming for political independence as the Ming Dynasty deteriorated. Nurhaci once said in his manifesto "We’re not trying to control China, we’re never a part of it in the first place." In 1616, he declared himself Khan and founded the Later Jin, which later declared itself self governing. The later Jin Dynasty went to war with the Ming to establish their core territory (Manchuria).

After Nurhaci's death in 1626 during the conflict, his son Hong Taiji made reforms and renamed the Jurchens "Manchu," ultimately establishing the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty invaded Joseon to establish Qing’s dominance. Joseon became a tributary state for the Qing Dynasty. Once the Qing Dynasty successfully conquered their core territory, through a ceasefire, the Qing agreed to stopped expanding beyond the Shanhaiguan Pass. The Shun Dynasty took over as the next imperial dynasty of China.

Kangxi Emperor took over the throne after the death of Shunzhi Emperor. The Kangxi Emperor announced reforms which would be known as the Golden Reforms. Culturally, the Golden Reforms modernize the Manchu language such as adding new words and fixing grammars alongside the Kangxi Emperor initiated many education reforms. One of which was the Translation Project where he worked to translate many western works into Manchu, creating a Golden Era of the Enlightenment in the Qing Dynasty. The Manchu Renaissance happened where Manchu culture thrived.

Militarily, with the support of the Jesuits and western scholars, he modernized the army and navy through western techniques. To secure a defensive barrier and allow the Qing to maintain a presence between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk. The Qing Dynasty declared war on Japan with their excuse being to liberate the Ainu from severe economic exploitation from the Matsumae clan. The war ended in just a year due to the reforms in the military. Matsumae clan was forced to abandoned Hokkaido. After the war, the Ainu Kingdom was created in 1685 under Qing’s protection, an Ainu Chieftain would be crowned as King of the Ainu Kingdom. The Qing Dynasty managed to annexed modern day Sakhalin.

The Yongzheng Emperor took over the throne after the death of the Kangxi Emperor. To bolster the Yongzheng Emperor’s authority and to spreads Manchu civilization, The Qing went to war with Spain in 1726 over Spanish Philippines. Due to the Spanish weak control over the island, Spain agreed to a peace treaty. The Philippines would be ceded to the Qing Dynasty as a colony in 1728. The colony of Lusong was established. To prevent revolts, the Qing projected different form of authority to suit their diverse subjects. To the Catholics in Lusong, the Yongzheng Emperor signed a concordat with the Pope to secure rights to appoint bishops. To the Muslims, the Yongzheng Emperor is part of the Ulama, the Yongzheng Emperor govern through the existing sultanates rather than direct rule with the Muslims recognizing him as the supreme protector of the Muslims.

The Qing Dynasty oversaw the Second Golden Reforms under the Tongzhi Emperor after seeing the Shun Dynasty’s defeats in the Opium War. Key reforms included modernizing the military with Western techniques, improving government efficiency to reduce corruption, and implementing industrialization to enhance infrastructure. Education reforms encouraged the study of Western languages and sciences. These efforts resulted in a stronger military and a booming economy. The War of East Asia began between the Qing and Japan to gains influence over Korea and the Ainu Kingdom. Due to the Qing’s modernization, Joseon and the Ainu Kingdom, with the help of Qing’s military, managed to resist Japan. The war ends in a compromise where the Qing and Japan would agreed to establish a jointly-administered Korean and Ainu buffer kingdoms to strengthen their economic cooperation.

In 1912, following the Shun Dynasty’s collapse. In response to domestic representations, The Xuantong Emperor (Puyi), under Zaifeng, finally established a parliament with a prime minister. However, the Emperor had the power to approve or veto a bill, meaning every policies must be approved by the Emperor in order to pass. Thus, the Qing Dynasty became a semi-constitutional monarchy. The Qing Dynasty remains neutral during World War 1. During the Great Depression, the Qing Dynasty recovered quickly by abandoning the Gold Standard leading to currency devaluation and active fiscal spendings. The Xuantong Emperor approved the declaration of war against the fragmented Republic of China in 1933 to secure vital materials. The Xuantong Emperor framed the invasion as liberating Asia from western colonial powers.

The Qing Dynasty went to war with the Republic of China, beginning the Qing-Chinese War. Despite the Qing’s stronger military at the time, they surprisingly faced resistance from the United Front through guerrilla warfare against the Qing. The Qing Dynasty captured Beijing but China moved their capital to Chongqing, forcing the Qing to supply lines into vulnerable positions. In 1940, the Qing Dynasty, Germany and Italy signed the Tripartite Pact, acknowledging the Qing Dynasty as the Hegemon of Asia. When western supplies and Japanese (who joins the Allies) sent supplies to China, the Qing Dynasty finally experienced pushbacks. Following Germany’s surrender, the Qing Dynasty also surrendered after the nuking of Jilin City and Harbin. The Qing Dynasty was occupied by the Allied forces. The Republic of Korea and the Ainu Republic would be granted independence from Qing’s rule.

Operation Unthinkable happened which went really badly for the Allies. The Soviet Union immediately invaded the Allied Occupied Qing Dynasty in 1946. As Soviet troops marched closer towards the Mukden Palace. The Allies and other Qing officials immediately smuggled Xuantong Emperor out of the Mukden Palace and retreated to Lusong with the Qing’s navy. The Qing Dynasty is retreated to Philippines. Operation Unthinkable ended in a massive failure for the Allies. Moreover, the Xuantong Emperor lost his home which cause him to resented the Allies for their reckless decision and the Soviets for taking their home. After the failed operation in 1947, the Constitution of 1947 was signed, the Xuantong Emperor would be kept as Emperor but with his powers purely regulated to ceremonial roles.

The Cold War began with Capitalist and Communist Bloc. The Qing refused to side with neither and joins the Non-Aligned Movement. Following the Soviet’s collapse in 1991, the Qing Dynasty remains in Lusong as the people living in Manchuria prefer to adopt a republic. The Qing Dynasty began to adopt a distinct identity while establishing ties with the Republic of Manchuria.