Mongolia

With the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in China in 1911 with the Xinhai Revolution, Mongolian nobles declared the Bogd Gegeen, the spiritual lama of Mongolia, as Khan of all Outer Mongolia. The newly anointed Bogd Khan sought to gain recognition.

While they garnered support from the Russian Empire, the Russian Duma elected to not recognize Mongolian independence, but as an autonomous region of China, as well as their claims over Inner Mongolia. The former was to gather influence over the newly declared Republic of China as well as their desire for interests in Central Asia, and the latter was due to the perception of Mongolian Imperialism. Britain also declined to recognize Mongolian independence as they believed it would plunge Central Asia into chaos. The only state to recognize full Mongolian independence was Tibet, itself unrecognized.

China had made efforts to reincorporate Mongolia, beginning with the republic under President Yuan Shikai, and again during the Warlord Wars. During the conflicts, the Anhui Clique, allied with Japan, invaded Mongolia and restored Chinese authority over the region in 1919. Mongolia subsequently lost its autonomy.

Following the Great War, Russia entertained the concept of Mongolian independence as a manner to restore Russian influence in the region from Japan. Russian suppliers armed the Mongolian people and, in 1921, Mongolia regained its independence. The territory of Inner Mongolia remained under the control of the Zhili and later Fengtian Clique.

During the Russo-German War, Japan began to court the Khanate. The Imperial Japanese offered the region of Inner Mongolia to the Khanate in exchange for neutrality. Mongolia was hesitant, as this would isolate their allies in Russia, but neutrality ultimately won over. Japan then invaded Manchuria, creating the puppet state of Manchukuo. Later, Mongolia reluctantly agreed to join the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

It was during the World War that Mongolia began to break away from the yoke of Japan. The Khan protested impressment of Mongolian men into the Japan. As a response, Japan attempted to cross into Inner Mongolia to reassert their own control. As a result, Mongolia once again reached out to the Russians for support. Russia was hesitant, but felt their interests were in jeopardy. Therefore, Russia declared war on Japan, sending men and resources to the Mongolian and Chinese front. Mongolia was declared a Russian protectorate once again.