As the tensions escalated in the eastern part of Eurasia, the United States government, while feeling a sense of discomfort, proceeded with preparations for its response. The intention was to restore peace and tranquility to the Promised Land (Frontier Republic) and deliver a decisive blow to China. For the United States, China held potential as a market due to its population, but at the same time, negative sentiments arose from the repeated riots caused by Chinese people in the Frontier Republic. This was also due to the rough treatment of individuals who entered the country for the purpose of doing business with China. Therefore, the planned military operations in the future focused primarily on defending the Frontier Republic, with no intention whatsoever of launching an attack on mainland China.
The invading Chinese forces would be repelled one by one, and the national strength would be undermined through strategic bombing by the air force. Additionally, there would be a blockade at sea to prevent the inflow of resources and disrupt trade with foreign countries. Having learned the details of the Sino-Japanese War from the Republic of Guam (USFJ), the United States no longer had any desire to swim in the People's Sea.
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Japanese Federation
The United States, which had prepared for a full-scale conflict with China, turned to Japan for assistance. However, this did not mean that they were seeking Japan's participation in the war. The request was for the sale of military supplies, medical support, and cooperation regarding the rest and recuperation of soldiers. In response to this request, Japan accepted based on the Far East Military Agreement, which was concluded between Japan and the United States for countering the Soviet Union. The acceptance included support for the naval blockade operation against China and the use of Taiwan as a port for the United States Navy.
Furthermore, Japan demanded that the Republic of Guam move towards becoming a special territory of the United States, specifically a Guam Special Autonomous Region. The purpose was to dispatch Guam's military, primarily composed of US Marines. Due to its unique composition, Guam's military held a distinct position within the Japanese Combined Armed Forces, excluding the Self-Defense Forces. Although it consisted of only one division due to its population size, it was the only heavily structured force within the Combined Armed Forces, including an airborne cavalry (helicopter) unit. *1 Therefore, the Japanese Combined Armed Forces' headquarters assigned it the role of a strategic mobile reserve.
The request was for the deployment of the 501st Mechanized Division. The Japanese government accepted it after confirming the judgment of the Guam government. In addition, the Frontier Republic government decided to request participation from the Siberian Republic. This was based on the East Eurasian Security Agreement, which emphasized mutual security guarantees. To protect the vast land of Manchuria, there was no such thing as having too many troops.
In response to this request, the Siberian Republic confirmed with Japan and decided to dispatch one mechanized division (the 702nd Mechanized Division) and two motorized divisions (the 712th Motorized Division and the 714th Motorized Division). The deployment of motorized divisions equipped for defensive tasks was explained as their primary role is the defense of the Frontier Republic's border. Moreover, the Japanese Combined Armed Forces' Siberian General Headquarters opposed the decision to extract and deploy multiple heavily equipped mechanized divisions from the front line against the Soviet Union. The reason for this opposition was that despite the decline in Soviet military activities since the Karelian Peninsula Conflict, they could not afford to be complacent. *2
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Pardes
Pardes, a Jewish nation and a satellite state of both the Frontier Republic and the Siberian Republic, had been requested by the United States to deploy forces based on the East Eurasian Security Agreement. Pardes accepted the request while understanding that the rise and fall or the preservation of a nation often required bloodshed. However, Pardes had a weak industrial base, and its economic situation was far from favorable. As a result, its military capabilities were not sufficient, lacking not only mechanization but even automation. Therefore, as a condition for their participation, Pardes demanded a significant supply of vehicles, starting with a sufficient quantity of automobiles to operate in the vast land of Manchuria, as well as tanks and armored vehicles.
In response, the United States promised a priority supply of trucks produced in the Frontier Republic. As for tanks, surplus M2 series tanks were provided as part of equipment updates. However, when it came to armored vehicles, the response was that they could not be supplied. Pardes had in mind the fully tracked armored vehicles *3 that Japan was selling worldwide at affordable prices. However, the United States had not yet developed or deployed fully tracked armored vehicles due to industrial or technological limitations.
Considering their technological capability to develop and manufacture tanks, it was not impossible for them to produce engines and suspensions required for fully tracked armored vehicles. However, that would make the armored vehicles comparable in price to tanks. This would hinder the ability to procure a sufficient quantity, making it meaningless, according to the judgment of the US military high command. This situation was not unique to the United States but also applied to Britain, France, and other advanced countries. As a result, half-tracks became the main vehicles for transporting armored personnel. However, even these vehicles were not cheap, and under the peacetime budgets of the US military, they were unable to procure a sufficient quantity to meet internal demands. Therefore, promises of future supply were made regarding armored personnel transport capabilities.
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Frontier Republic
Under the command of the United States, the Frontier Republic entered into a wartime state. This development created tension within the Frontier Republic concerning the issue of race, particularly between Chinese-descendant Frontier people and resident Chinese individuals, and other ethnic groups. As a result, a significant number of resident Chinese and Chinese-descendant Frontier people sought to migrate from the Frontier Republic to China. In addition, a small number of Chinese-descendant Frontier people volunteered for the Frontier Republic's military, aiming to demonstrate their loyalty. These movements of Chinese individuals within the Frontier Republic led to the transmission of the United States' decision to China.
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Notes
*1: The 501st Mechanized Division of the Republic of Guam's military is based on the US 3rd Marine Division, and the division emblem has been inherited from that time. However, considering that the population of Guam Island is only around 200.000, it is usually impossible to maintain a division as large as the 20.000-strong 501st Mechanized Division in terms of its working population. Over 10 years have passed since the time slip, and there are retired veterans, as well as young soldiers who have aged.
Nevertheless, the reason why the division's size can be maintained is because personnel are also dispatched from the US mainland. Initially, the purpose was to acquire advanced military technology possessed by the US Marine Corps. However, at present, the role has shifted to securing American influence over the Republic of Guam (USFJ). Therefore, on the books of the US Marine Corps, the 501st Mechanized Division of the Republic of Guam's military is also the 3rd Division of the United States Marine Corps.
Furthermore, officers and soldiers are also dispatched from mainland Japan. This is partly because the officer's educational institution has been unified as the Japanese Combined Armed Forces and is conducted in various schools in mainland Japan (note: proposals for the school system and the dispatch of instructors are also carried out as part of the USFJ, so it is not entirely Japanese in nature). In a sense, the 501st Mechanized Division symbolizes the Republic of Guam, a nation caught between Japan and the United States, and serves as a bond between Japan and the United States.
*2: As for the situation on the Soviet side, at this point, the Soviet military had significantly reduced its activities. The repeated wars and purges had led to a season of reorganization for the Soviet military. Additionally, the Soviet leadership was focused on activities in the easier-to-win European theater, which contributed to the decline of their operations in the Siberian region.
However, despite the decrease in activity, it was not a time for complacency since the military forces themselves had not moved. Diplomatic efforts towards tension reduction and détente were being made but remained at the level of preliminary negotiations. Nevertheless, unidentified aircraft without national emblems flew near the border on a regular basis. As the Siberian Army of the Japanese Combined Armed Forces, there was no reason to lower their guard.
Furthermore, within the Soviet government, Stalin had set a policy to avoid a war with Japan within a period of ten years. However, Stalin was concerned that taking a conciliatory attitude towards Japan might provoke territorial ambitions west of Siberia. Therefore, he issued strict orders to maintain an unwavering stance against Japan on the First Far Eastern Front, which was facing Japan.
*3: Currently, Japan has officially started selling the Type 38 tracked armored vehicle family. Argentina was the first non-G4 country to introduce it, and it gained a reputation not only for its performance but also for its high maintainability and operational availability, which were backed by its excellent maintainability.
The Type 38 tracked armored vehicle was designed with a priority on maintainability rather than significant performance improvements, with the assumption of sales and operations to non-advanced countries. Even the repair parts are designed to be compatible with non-Japanese high-quality and high-precision components. Therefore, if a major power-class country wanted to, it would be possible to mass-produce tracked armored vehicles comparable to the Type 38 in terms of performance (with the caveat of disregarding the price). However, the Japanese brand value and the exceptional performance of the armor material make it highly acclaimed worldwide.