The Rise of Japanese Empire

After restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868, Japan rapidly modernize its society and military and began emulating the western colonial powers to expand its borders-.
The Qing Empire was battling against French encroachment on its holding in Tonkin (modern : northern Vietnam) in Sino-French war in 1884-1885. Qing Forces was relatively able to fend off land attack, but defeated in naval engagement with French's fleet.
This defeat urge the newly modernize Japan to upgrade its navy from merely coastal defense to active navy and restructuring its command chain.
Japan sought to conquer its immediate neighbor, Kingdom of Joseon/Choson (Korea). Although Joseon was nominally under Qing's vassalage. But Joseon able to repel western encroachment on its territory in French campaign against Korea (1866) and U.S in Battle of Ganghwa (1871). While Qing Empire was defeated multiple times by European powers.
Japan able to find excuse to force unequal treaty to Joseon in 1876 through Ganghwa island incident. This was the beginning of Japanese unequal treaties imposed to other asian nations.
Series of revolt in Joseon (korea) led to intervention by Qing Empire and Japanese Empire in 1884, temporarily settled by treaty of Tientsin (Tianjin) in 1885. But tension began to escalate between Incumbent major power of Qing empire against newly emerge Japanese Empire. Sino-Japanese war Broke out in 1894-1895 between Japanese Empire and Qing Empire over the control of korea. This war tested both nation's attempt to modernize its military. Although Qing Empire had larger forces and vast manpower, Japanese forces emerge victorious over the land (Battle of Pyongyang 1894) and sea (battle of Yalu river 1894) they even pushed to Manchuria and capture Liaodong Peninsula. But western powers (especially Russia) who wanted to carve up Qing Empire force the Japanese return the peninsula to Qing Empire.
This was the beginning of tensions between Russian Empire and Japanese Empire. Russian themselves who take part in second Opium War in 1860 able to annex Outer Manchuria (Vladivostok) and aim for establishing Russian port in Lüshunkou. in 1895, Queen Myeongseong of Joseon, King Gojong's wife was assassinated by Japanese agents in Gyeongbok palace. Japanese Empire regarded her as an obstacle to its overseas expansion. Feeling threatened in his palace from Japanese influence, king Gojong of Joseon sought refuge in Russian embassy during 1896. In his last attempt to keep Korean's sovereignty, King Gojong proclaimed Empire of Korea in 1897 with himself as Emperor. This act was asserting Korean independence from Qing Empire, Japanese Empire and Russian Empire. In 1899, fed up by foreign encroachment, Boxer rebellion erupted in China against imperialist powers of Britain, Russia, France, USA, Germany, Italy and Japan. Boxer themselves was supported by many Qing forces. in 1900 Boxer rebellion was suppressed by joint imperialist forces. This event made Russia sent large army to Manchuria, a move that threatens Japanese interest.
in 1905, Japanese empire declares war with Russian Empire for control of Manchuria. This event, only 37-years since Meiji restoration began, see Newly emerge Japan challenging major European power, Russian Empire.
Japan successfully defeated Russian forces defending Port Arthur (Lüshunkou) and drove back Russian forces reinforcing Manchuria. In sea, Japanese Forces successfully destroyed Russian Pacific fleet in Port Arthur (Lüshunkou). The only option Russia have is Baltic Fleet in Europe, while black sea fleet was unable to pass Bosporus strait due to strait neutrality between Ottoman empire and Major European powers. in 1904, The Russian Baltic fleet fleet depart from Talinn (Estonia). The Fleet fired British Fisherman boats in North Sea, mistaken it for Japanese torpedo boat. In response, Suez canal (controlled by British) was closed to Russian Battleships. Baltic fleet had to circle around the globe to get reach Japan. in 1905, Baltic fleet engaged with Japanese 'combined fleet' in Tsushima Strait. Although had more battleships than the Japanese, Russian fleet was outnumbered, undisciplined, and exhausted from its voyage. The Japanese fleet under Tōgō Heihachirō able to defeat Russian navy with 6 Russian Battleship sunk, while his fleet lost 3 torpedo boats.
As Japan was allied with Britain, Other European powers was not intervene with this conflict. After Russian defeat, Japanese forces replacing the Russian in occupying Manchuria. Unequal treaties between Qing Empire and japan following First Sino-Japanese war and Russo-Japanese war increase abusive behavior of Japanese troops toward local civilian. As Russian influence in far east weakened, Korean Empire was put under Japanese protectorates in 1905. Korea was fully annexed by Japanese Empire in 1910.

Music :
PC Games - Battlestations:Midway
composed by Richard Jacques & David Kates

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