The Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars and the Revision of the Treaties

After two foreign wars, Japan joined the ranks of the great powers, and it achieved the long-desired revision of the unequal treaties.

Basic Knowledge

In 1894, when the Donghak Peasant Revolution(also called the Tonghak Rebellion) broke out in Korea, both Japan and Qing China sent troops, causing the Sino-Japanese War(1894-95). Japan won and acquired the Liaodong Peninsula, Taiwan, and the Pescadores Islands through the Treaty of Shimonoseki(1895, Ito Hirobumi and Li Hongzhang), as well as an indemnity of 200 million taels. However, the Liaodong Peninsula was returned to Qing China after the Triple Intervention by Russia, Germany, and France. Japan formed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902, and the Russo-Japanese War broke out in 1904. After victories at the Battle of Mukden and the Battle of Tsushima(Togo Heihachiro), Japan concluded the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905(Komura Jutaro and Witte, mediated by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt).

Further Study (Background and Effects)

Through the Treaty of Portsmouth, Japan gained protectorate rights over Korea, southern Sakhalin(south of 50° north latitude), rights to the South Manchuria Railway, and a lease over southern Liaodong Peninsula (Kwantung Leased Territory), but it received no indemnity, causing the Hibiya Incendiary Incident(1905) due to public dissatisfaction. In 1910, Japan carried out the annexation of Korea and established the Government-General of Korea. In treaty revision, Mutsu Munemitsu succeeded in abolishing consular jurisdiction(extraterritoriality) in 1894, and Komura Jutaro fully recovered tariff autonomy in 1911. After half a century, the revision of the unequal treaties begun at the end of the Edo period was completed.

Points of Caution (Easily Confused)

① Do not confuse the Treaty of Shimonoseki(1895, Sino-Japanese) with the Treaty of Portsmouth(1905, Russo-Japanese). Indemnity received=Shimonoseki; no indemnity=Portsmouth. ② The Triple Intervention involved Russia, Germany, and France; Britain was not included (which explains the Anglo-Japanese Alliance). ③ Treaty revision proceeded in the order Mutsu (extraterritoriality)→Komura (tariffs). Prime ministers were Inoue Kaoru(Rokumeikan), who failed → Okuma Shigenobu, who failed → Mutsu Munemitsu, who succeeded. ④ Ito Hirobumi was assassinated by An Jung-geun in Harbin(1909).

Practice

1. Give the peace treaty for the Sino-Japanese War and the peace treaty for the Russo-Japanese War.
2. Who was the foreign minister who abolished consular jurisdiction in 1894?
3. Name the three countries that carried out the Triple Intervention.