Tokyo- The Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed on April 17, 1895, ending the war between Japan and China (the Sino-Japanese War), but creating further hostility between the two countries. "The treaty included giving Korea independence, ceding Taiwan, the Liaotung Peninsula, and the Pescadores Islands to Japan, and for Chine to open five ports. Later the Triple Intervention including Germany, France, and Russia forced China to pay an added indemnity." (1)

The Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) was a fight over Korea. Within a period of a year, Japan and China fought back and forth. Eventually Japan won, resulting in the treaty. This was Japan's first step towards being like the West and taking imperial action. "The economic dimensions of Japan's expansionism in the 19th century were subordinate to geopolitical concerns."(2) Japan wanted to become more Western after observing the Opium Wars between China and Great Britain. The Opium Wars motivated Japan to adopt the imperial ways of powerful Western countries such as Great Britain. The Opium Wars (1839-42 and 1856-60), b between China and Great Britain, caused great damage to China. China made mistakes and Japan wanted to avoid them.

Japan's first imperial target was Korea, which at the time was a territory of China. However, China influenced Korea to oppose demands from Japan. "On receiving the Japanese demands, for that is what they were, the Koreans hesitated. They were encouraged to do so by the Chinese. Then the Chinese declined to join the Japanese in forcing modernization on the Koreans. On July 12,1894, Tokyo had decided on war and instructed its minister in Seoul to 'use any pretext available' to justify action" (3).

However, during the Sino-Japanese War the Japanese people had various opinions about the war. "Foreign Minister Mutsu [noticed] it did not make sense that Japan should extend itself for the benefit of Korea. 'I never though there was any reason for internal reform in Korea beyond political interest Our political interest was what mattered, and nothing was to be sacrificed to it." (4)Although, to others, "the war was broadly popular in Japan, where intellectuals accepted the argument that Japan was freeing Korea from China and exulted in the success. Fukuzawa Yukichi saw in it "a war between a country which it trying to develop civilization and a country which disturbs the development of civilization."(5) Japan's defeat also brought a huge sense of nationalism. One person commented, " I am so happy our little country could defeat such a large country, and from all countries China!" People's actions reflected their nationalism. Now there are patriotic "novels [being written] about the war and daily sponsored prize competitions for war songs that arouse chauvinistic emotions" (6)

This treaty represents China being stepped on once again. They signed a treaty that is by no means just. Japan received everything they wanted and titled the first non-Western country to have imperial power, while China ended up giving up Korea, ceding territory, opening new ports, and having to pay millions of dollars. Thus this treaty was only beneficial to Japan and humiliating to China. China's dignity must be plummeting and the Chinese people must feel embarrassed by their government choices and actions.

Sources

1) The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 2000, Sixth Edition, s.v " Shimonoseki, Treaty of" [http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/42795.html], January 2002

2) James L. Mclain, A Modern History Japan (New York and London: W.W Norton & Company 2002) 315

3) Marius B. Jansen, The Making of Modern Japan,( Cambridge, Massachusetts/ London,England:The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press 200) 432.

4) Ibid 431-432

5) Ibid 434

6) Ibid 433

Images

1) Taiwan Documents Project, "Treaty of Shimonoseki" [http://www.taiwandocuments.org/shimonoseki01.htm] February 2002

2) CNN, "Trade war: Britain acquires 'a barren rock" [http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9706/hk97/past/opium.wars/] February 2002