China is tough. I think that the next time I play Japan, my J1 build is going to be two minor IC’s. I think two minors is better for Japan than one major, its cheaper, you probably can’t afford 10 units in one place, and it has the advantage of giving you two different locations to produce from making you more flexible, also if one falls its not as bad, your eggs aren’t all in one basket.
I think you have to do this J1, or its too late, its the only and fastest way to deal with China, and you build 6 Mech inf there every turn to take territories, and you planes to kill units. The mech cost the same as the initial cost of the two factories. Then you can focus the rest on the Pacific.
My question (which is technically OT) is what turn should Japan declare war on the UK/ANZAC/US?