The important phrase here is alternate history. Various areas along the coast are more heavily industrialised than they were in real life, but have disadvantages too for balance purposes (i.e. lower domestic food production, more susceptible to foreign influence etc).
In this world, Beiyang China kind of survived, but only as a powerless central government with little to no control over the warlords. The Republican Army could perhaps put one or two warlords down, but not without triggering an open revolt that they would have no hope of defeating. The KMT and various other reformist groups may be waiting in the wings, but its the warlords with the armies so they'll be the ones ti decide.