the European powers forced Japan to give Imperialism and its Onslaught up the Liaotung peninsula. Japan resented this “Triple Intervention” (intervention of France, England and Russia in ) and embarked on a big armaments programme. Japan in “Charmed Circle of Great Powers” Even more significant than the Sino– Japanese War was the Japanese defeat of Russia in – . Following the “Triple Intervention,” Russia had occupied southern Manchuria.
Japan entered into an alliance with England in and demanded that Russia withdraw its troops. Russia underestimated Japan. In a war broke out. In this Russo-Japanese War, Japan was victorious and by the treaty of Portsmouth signed at the mediation of the USA, Japan got back Port Arthur.
With this war Japan had entered the “charmed circle of the great Powers”. Strong-arm Diplomacy of Japan after The assassination of a prominent Japanese diplomat by a Korean provided the excuse in for Japan’s annexation of Korea. The confusion in China following the downfall of Manchu dynasty in provided Japan with an opportunity for further expansion. In Japan presented Twenty-One Demands to the President of the newly established Chinese Republic, Yuan Shih-kai.
These demands included transfer of German rights in the Chinese coastal province of Shantung to Japan and the recognition of Japanese hold over Manchuria, and the appointment of Japanese advisers to the Chinese government. The Chinese had to concede most of the Japanese demands. (b) Causes of the War (i) The Evolution of the System of Alliances The evolution of the system of alliances goes back to the 1870s. Its original architect was Bismarck.
Bismarck feared that the French, on losing Alsace and Lorraine, might launch a war of revenge. Therefore he was determined to isolate France. His Three Emperors League Bismarck ( ), an alliance involving Germany, Austria and Russia, however failed. But he succeeded in cementing a strong relationship with Austria, which, expecting troubles from the Slavs inside and outside its borders, wanted to have an understanding with Germany.
In this alliance was expanded