China (Timur the Zoroastrian)

From Alternative History

Because of the stong Zoroastrian states to the west of China, the Russians expanded not into Central Asia but into Mongolia, the Turim Basin, and Manchuria. The Russians heavily influenced Chinese foreign policy, becoming their sole trading partner for several decades. But other European powers muscled their way into the lucrative Chinese trade market. Perhaps because of the political climate surrounding China, Taoism became the dominant force in Southern China, and as northern China was dominated by Russia, in all of China as well. The Manchurian Qing dynasty was subjected to a Taoist revolution (as contradictory as that may sound) and fell to the New-Sung Dynasty.

Today, while China's borders are perhaps much reduced compared to what might have been, its internal power structure is relatively strong, with Russian support and a strong backing from religious authority. China's ancient culture and ideals reign strong in what the Chinese still call the Middle Kingdom.