Manchuria is 3 IPCs, not 4.
And isn’t in a position to transport Infantry AND Tanks to combat zones 2 spaces away. (on any of 3 continents)
Tanks in Siberia are on a set path…you know where they are going and they will outrun their infantry.
2 INF, 2 TNK every turn at East Indies is going to get loaded on to 2 transports and sent to Egypt. And the 2 transports off the coast of Egypt will return to the East Indies sea zone and wait to pick up next turns buy. (or India instead of Egypt, or Persia and on to Stalingrad)
The japanese territories on the coast have all been reduced to 2 (except manchuria) so that each factory you buy for them only nets you 2 production spaces (not three)
Thus making Manchuria the best spot for a factory (because you get the most spaces to place at)
Except East Indies is BETTER.
It can’t be attacked by land
It can build 4 units (fitting neatly into 2 transports)
It is within range of Africa, Asia, and Australia
You can industrialize it on your first turn
Thats the real problem…that Japan STARTS with these money islands, and can turn them into an production hub equal in output to the Caucasus over the span of one turn.