Historical background and context
– Russo-Japanese War fought between Japan and Russia during 1904 and 1905
– Major theaters of military operations were in Liaodong Peninsula and Mukden in Southern Manchuria, and the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan
– Russia sought a warm-water port on the Pacific Ocean for its navy and maritime trade
– Japan feared Russian encroachment in Korea and Manchuria
– Japan offered to recognize Russian dominance in Manchuria in exchange for recognition of the Korean Empire within Japanese sphere of influence, but Russia refused
– After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Japan aimed to assimilate Western ideas and technological advances
– Japan transformed into a modernized industrial state
– Japanese desired recognition as equal with Western powers
– Japan was an imperialist power seeking overseas expansionism
– Japan divided on the timing of conquering Korea, but no one accepted Korean independence
– Tsarist Russia had ambitions in the East
– Russia extended its realm across Central Asia to Afghanistan
– Russia had pursued an expansionist policy in Siberia and the Far East since the 16th century
– Russia’s expansion threatened Japan’s plans for a sphere of influence in Korea and Manchuria
Pressure and conflicts leading to the war
– Ordinary Japanese people demanded a tough foreign policy and engaged in riots and assassination when policy was seen as weak
– Meiji oligarchy sought to appropriate demands of the peoples’ rights movement
– Japan encouraged a coup in the Kingdom of Korea and clashed with China over influence in Korea
– Tokyo criticized for not being aggressive enough in Korea
– Pressure for a tough foreign policy came from common people who were oppressed at home
– Russia leased Port Arthur and surrounding areas from China in 1898
– Russians fortified Port Arthur and built the South Manchurian Railroad
– Russian influence grew in Korea, leading to a pro-Russian cabinet
– Russia acquired mining and forestry concessions near the Yalu and Tumen rivers
– Both Russia and Japan sent troops to quell the Boxer Rebellion in 1900
– Russian troops settled in Manchuria and did not withdraw as promised
– After the rebellion, 100,000 Russian soldiers remained in Manchuria
– Russian position in Manchuria strengthened by 1903
– Itō Hirobumi proposed giving Russia control over Manchuria in exchange for Japanese control of northern Korea
– Itō Hirobumi and Count Inoue Kaoru opposed war with Russia on financial grounds
– Katsura Tarō, Komura Jutarō, and Field Marshal Yamagata Aritomo favored war
– Japan signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance with Britain in 1902
– The alliance ensured British support for Japan in case of war with Russia
Negotiations and factors leading to the war
– German Emperor Wilhelm II praised Emperor Nicholas II of Russia as the defender of the white race
– Wilhelm wrote letters urging Russia to expand in Asia to counter the perceived Yellow Peril
– Wilhelm warned that Japan and China would unite against Russia
– German propaganda fueled anti-Asian sentiments in Europe
– Germany played a role in shaping European perceptions of the Russo-Japanese conflict
– Chinese and Japanese forces led by competent officers
– Hatred for Christianity as a motivation
– Concerns about the yellow peril
– Wilhelm’s encouragement of Russian ambitions in Asia
– French disapproval of Russian expansionism in Asia
– Nicholas’ belief in German support
– Assumptions about Russia’s military weaknesses in the Far East
– Wilhelm and von Bülow’s lack of interest in East Asia
– Wilhelm’s letters to Nicholas provoking change in Europe
– Wilhelm’s manipulation of Russia and Japan for German benefit
– Demonstrations by Japanese university students
– Japanese opposition to Russia’s plans in Manchuria
– Negotiations between Japan and Russia
– Japanese proposals for mutual engagement and recognition
– Russian concessions during negotiations
– Failure of Russia to withdraw from Manchuria
– French neutrality if Japan attacked Russia
– Nicholas’ hope for German intervention
– Roosevelt’s letter blaming Wilhelm for the war
– German ambitions to challenge Britain’s position
Actions and perceptions of key individuals
– Emperor Gojong of Korea pursued a policy of neutrality to preserve Korean independence
– Chinese ambassador Hu Weide believed a Japanese victory would be favorable for China to regain sovereignty over Manchuria
– China decided to remain neutral in the war, unsure of Japan’s ambitions in Manchuria
– Russian negotiations were aimed at buying time to further build up military strength
– Wilhelm II of Germany assured Russia of support in case of military complications in the Far East, leading to the transfer of Russian divisions from Europe to the Far East
– Wilhelm believed that Russia was chosen by God to save the white race from the Yellow Peril and should annex Korea, Manchuria, and northern China
– Wilhelm saw a Russian victory as a blow to British diplomacy and envisioned a partnership between Germany and Russia to challenge British sea power
– Nicholas II of Russia became more obstinate in his stance against compromising with Japan after receiving a letter from Wilhelm attacking him as a coward
– Japan believed that Russia was not serious about seeking a peaceful solution
– Japan proposed a formula to keep Manchuria and Korea outside each other’s spheres of influence, but Russia did not provide a formal reply
– On 21 December 1903, the Japanese cabinet voted to go to war against Russia
– Japanese minister Kurino Shinichirō was recalled and diplomatic relations with Russia were severed
– The Japanese government expressed concern about the delays in negotiations and the lack of progress
– Nicholas II’s advisors did not support the war due to logistical challenges in transporting troops and supplies to the East
– Nicholas repeatedly delayed negotiations, believing he was protected by God and the autocracy
– Some scholars suggest that Nicholas intentionally dragged Japan into war to revive Russian nationalism, but no historical evidence supports this claim
– Nicholas expressed to Kaiser Wilhelm that he did not wish for war
– Russia underestimated Japan’s willingness to Source URL:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War
