The First Sino-Japanese War, which took place between 1894 and 1895, was a far-reaching war of modernization between China’s late Qing Dynasty and Japan. This war not only ended with the tragic defeat of China’s Beiyang Fleet, but also became an important turning point in China’s modern history and profoundly changed the political landscape in East Asia. It was not only a military contest between two Asian countries, but also a collision between traditional empires and emerging capitalist countries in the process of modernization, and its results played an important role in the evolution of the world situation. This article will explore the root causes of the conflict, key battles and historical consequences of this war. 

The Roots of the Sino-Japanese War

After the Meiji Restoration, Japan got rid of the national crisis, but embarked on the path of external expansion. Emperor Meiji formulated a continental policy to dominate the world. There are five steps in total – the first step is to conquer Korea, the second step is to conquer Taiwan, the third step is to conquer Northeast China (Manchuria and Mongolia), the fourth step is to conquer China, and the fifth step is to conquer the world. In the late Qing Dynasty in China, the Qing government was politically corrupt and had many internal contradictions. In the military, although modern navies such as the Beiyang Fleet were established, military funds were misappropriated, weapons and equipment were updated slowly, and military training was relaxed. In diplomacy, the Qing government did not fully understand Japan’s aggressive intentions, and hoped for the mediation of the great powers. It lacked an active and effective response strategy, which made Japan’s aggressive behavior more confident. 

Brief Introduction to the Sino-Japanese War

The First Sino-Japanese War was a full-scale war involving both land and sea battles, and was also a test of strength between China and Japan in the process of modernization. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan’s military equipment and tactical thinking had been modernized; while China, although it had introduced Western military technology, still had many problems at the institutional, management and strategic levels. It ended in the humiliating signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. 

Outbreak of war and Korean land battle (July-September 1894)

On July 25, 1894, the Japanese navy suddenly attacked a Chinese troop transport ship off the coast of Fengdao, and the Sino-Japanese War broke out without a declaration of war. On August 1, China and Japan officially declared war. On September 15, the Battle of Pyongyang broke out, and the Qing army commander Ye Zhichao abandoned the city and fled, causing the Qing army’s defense line in Korea to completely collapse, and Japan controlled the entire territory of Korea.

Battle of the Yellow Sea and the Setback of the Beiyang Fleet (September 17, 1894)

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On September 17, 1894, the Chinese and Japanese navies fought fiercely in the Dadonggou area of ​​the Yellow Sea, which was a key naval battle in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. Although the Beiyang Fleet had some large warships, it was at a disadvantage in terms of speed and artillery firing rate. During the battle, the captain of the Zhiyuan ship, Deng Shichang, and other generals fought bravely, but due to the disparity in strength, the Beiyang Fleet lost five warships, while the Japanese fleet did not sink a single ship. The Battle of the Yellow Sea caused the Beiyang Fleet to lose control of the Yellow Sea, laying hidden dangers for the subsequent development of the war.

Liaodong Peninsula and Shandong Peninsula Campaign (October 1894 – February 1895 )

In October 1894, the Japanese army invaded the Liaodong Peninsula of China in two routes. The Qing army suffered successive defeats in Jiuliancheng, Fenghuangcheng and other places, and the Japanese army quickly occupied Dalian and Lushun. A large number of advanced weapons and equipment in the Lushun military port fell into the hands of the Japanese army. In January 1895, the Japanese army landed in Rongcheng Bay on the Shandong Peninsula and attacked Weihaiwei. The Beiyang Fleet was trapped in the port and attacked from all sides. On February 17, Weihaiwei fell, the Beiyang Fleet was completely wiped out, and Ding Ruchang committed suicide.

The Treaty of Shimonoseki is signed (April 17, 1895)

On April 17, 1895, the Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan. The treaty stipulated that China recognized Korea’s “independence”; ceded the Liaodong Peninsula, the entire island of Taiwan and all its affiliated islands, and the Penghu Islands to Japan; compensated Japan for military expenses of 200 million taels of silver; opened Shashi, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou as trading ports; and allowed Japan to open factories in trading ports.

Aftermath of the Sino-Japanese War

The signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki caused China to lose a large area of territory and sovereignty. The huge indemnity increased the burden on the Chinese people and further weakened the financial strength of the Qing government. The cession of territories such as Taiwan not only undermined China’s territorial integrity, but also hurt the national feelings of the Chinese people. Allowing Japan to set up factories in China facilitated the capital export of the great powers to China and seriously hindered the development of China’s national capitalism. The failure of the Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki greatly stimulated the ambition of the great powers to divide China. China fell into a serious national crisis, which also prompted the Chinese people to begin to reflect and explore the way to save the nation and lay the groundwork for a series of reform movements.