Japanese Foreign Policy of the Meiji Period

During the Meiji period , Japan's foreign policy was modernized. Japan enters the international stage and begins an expansive foreign policy. Up until this point in time, foreign policy conditions were characterized by cultural differences and tribute relationships in East Asia. In the Russo-Japanese War , an Asian power defeated a European or Western power for the first time.

The Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Emperor Meiji

Japan became increasingly modern and approached the West. This shift from isolated Japan ( Sakoku ) to an internationally respected and modern Japan was not easy and resulted in numerous losses due to uprisings and attacks within Japan.

An abolition of the shogunate was desired and it was to be replaced by a new, political system based on the western model. Reasons for the opening and restoration of Japan were, among other things, the increased arrival of foreign ships in Japan since the 19th century. Formally, the restoration only came to an end with the constitution of the Japanese Empire in 1890. The Meiji Restoration Treaties with Western countries not only ruined Japan's small and medium-sized producers, but also undermined the development of the national economy. Although Japan was still dependent on the Western powers, the Japanese Empire tried to expand its influence to the surrounding Asian countries.

Japanese-Korean conflict of interest

Japan imposed the first unilateral treaty with Korea in 1876. Since then, the Japanese have had almost monopoly rights in the Korean market. Not only have they driven Chinese competitors out of the market, but they have also suppressed Korean traders. The whole thing was more like a robbery of Korea that plunged almost the entire Korean population into misery. The result was anti-Japanese movements.

In July 1882, a riot broke out in Seoul. The Japanese were forced to flee the city in a panic. But they soon returned with the escort of the squadron of warships. The Korean government was forced to pay large compensation and had given permission to hold security forces for Japanese missions in Seoul. And in December 1884, the Japanese organized a coup d'état.

Japanese colonial policy could not go unnoticed in China as Korea had been tributary to China for centuries. Chinese troops were sent to the peninsula, but the Japanese diplomats had suggested to Beijing that Japanese and Chinese troops should be withdrawn from Korea and that expeditionary forces should only be sent by mutual agreement. A common protectorate over Korea was established in the Treaty of Tianjin in April 1885 .

This remained so until April 17, 1895, when the Chinese Empire lost the First Sino-Japanese War against the Japanese Empire as part of the dispute over supremacy on the Korean Peninsula .

Sino-Japanese conflict

Korean soldiers and Chinese prisoners in the First Sino-Japanese War. Year 1894

During the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895, the Jinzhou fortress fell and the Japanese occupied the naval bases of Port Arthur , Weihaiwei and the Lüshunkou fortress. China has urgently asked for a ceasefire. The Japanese have imposed rather harsh conditions in response, including China's waiver of all rights to Korea, an assignment of a number of Chinese territories ( Liaodong Peninsula , Taiwan , Penghu Islands ) to Japan, and a huge cash compensation. China's half-hearted approval of these exorbitant demands was recorded in the Treaty of Shimonoseki of April 1895. However, Japan has failed to implement all of these agreements. Russia, feeling a growing military threat from the Japanese side, had advised the Japanese not to annex the Liaodong Peninsula. France and Germany supported Russia's wish. Not ready to confront these countries, Japan was forced to adopt this proposal.

As a result of the victory over China, Japan joined the great colonial powers. Of the 365 million yen received from China as a contribution, 20 million were given to the emperor, 10 million each went to the development of education and a natural disaster protection program. The remainder, 325 million, was spent on the needs of the army and the navy.

Russo-Japanese War

Russo-Japanese War battlefield

The Russo-Japanese War , also known as "World War Zero", took place from 1904 to 1905. The reason for the conflict was the collision of Japanese and Russian interests. Both nations wanted to secure supremacy in Korea and Manchuria , while both Japan and Russia showed increased presence in Asia.

The Japanese-Russian conflict intensified since 1891 with the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway . China and Russia pledged mutual support. China allowed the construction and Russia should support China with troops in the event of a Japanese attack. In addition, Russia occupied the port of Port Arthur on December 4, 1897 in order to secure a base in the Asian region. Japan responded later with a surprise attack on Russian-occupied Port Arthur. They were forced to withdraw Russian troops from Manchuria while Japan took Port Arthur. In the end, Japan won.

The end of the war brought the Treaty of Portsmouth of September 5, 1905, in which the USA mediated. This said that Russia had to give up Liaoyang and Port Arthur. In addition, they ceded the southern half of Sakhalin and withdrew from Manchuria. Russia was able to negotiate mild contractual conditions, which led to the failure of the Japanese demands for reparations and the cession of Sakhalin. This ultimately led to the Hibiya riots .

End of the Meiji period

In 1912, after the Tenno died, the new government came to power. She had agreed to refrain from military intervention in China. When Emperor Yoshihito took office , the Meiji era ended and the Taishō era began .

literature

Inge-Lore Kluge: The realignment of Japanese foreign policy in the late Meiji period, 1906–1912 . In: Oriens Extremus (= "100 Years of the Meiji Constitution": State, Society and Culture in Japan during the Meiji Period (1990) . Volume 33 ). Harrassowitz Verlag, 1990, p. 89-98 .
Miriam Rohde: Fundamentals of Foreign Policy (Japan) . 2002, p. 1–3 ( [1] [accessed February 2, 2017]).
Kai Schulze: The foreign policy of the Meiji period . Grin Verlag, 2013, ISBN 3-638-89364-2 .
Wieland Wagner: Japan's foreign policy in the early Meiji period 1868-1894 . 1990, ISBN 978-3-515-05571-0 .