This isn't based on some grander lore but I'll explain a little bit of my thought process. Essentially this is the product of a socialist-aligned Germany from the Soviet revolution onward allowing the Soviets to focus militarily in Central Asia. This would also mean less Russification / resettlement policies possibly allowing for a stronger central Asian identity. After the Soviets beat Japan out of mainland Asia, Mongolia and East Turkestan are occupied by Russia, but declare independence with the other central Asian states after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Germany is revisionist by this period, and once again has private ownership, but has suffered no traumatic breakup like the Soviets.
China is republican, following Soviet investment into the Republican war effort against Japan.
In the 2000s, the war is waged by the Russian-assisted Kazakhs, seeking to hold control of their former territories, and a wide range of socialists, nationalists, Islamists, and liberals in guerilla warfare. By 2010 most of the region is in ceasefire, with a few terrorist groups still in operation. The US and Russia both have significant military presence, and the region is divided into blocs of allegiance.
By 2020, most of the rebel groups have been pushed back, and the emerging nation-states of Central Asia can finally begin to recover, and live side by side peacefully.
(Copy-pasted from original post)
This isn't based on some grander lore but I'll explain a little bit of my thought process. Essentially this is the product of a socialist-aligned Germany from the Soviet revolution onward allowing the Soviets to focus militarily in Central Asia. This would also mean less Russification / resettlement policies possibly allowing for a stronger central Asian identity. After the Soviets beat Japan out of mainland Asia, Mongolia and East Turkestan are occupied by Russia, but declare independence with the other central Asian states after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Germany is revisionist by this period, and once again has private ownership, but has suffered no traumatic breakup like the Soviets.
China is republican, following Soviet investment into the Republican war effort against Japan.
In the 2000s, the war is waged by the Russian-assisted Kazakhs, seeking to hold control of their former territories, and a wide range of socialists, nationalists, Islamists, and liberals in guerilla warfare. By 2010 most of the region is in ceasefire, with a few terrorist groups still in operation. The US and Russia both have significant military presence, and the region is divided into blocs of allegiance.
By 2020, most of the rebel groups have been pushed back, and the emerging nation-states of Central Asia can finally begin to recover, and live side by side peacefully.