A Study On The Issue Of Korean Neutralization During The Period From 1882 To 1905

Korea is geographically located in the east end of Eurasian continent, a bridgehead linking the ocean and mainland. It was an economically backward and militarily weak nation in the late 19th and early 20th century, which made it always be reluctantly involved into the competition of surrounding great powers. In the year 1882, Korea began opening up to outside world, and eventually fell into Japan's protectorate in the year 1905. During this some twenty years'period, neighboring great powers had repeatedly raised the proposal of Korea's neutralization for their national interests. Considering its independence and security, Korea itself had also conducted numerous diplomatic efforts for its neutralization. This paper aims to find out the reasons on the failure of Korea's neutralization during this period, and tries to construct the theory on the neutralization of small states.The author analyzes various conditions which are helpful or necessary for the realization of the small states'neutralization from two levels of analysis, namely the international system and the domestic situation of small state. Firstly, international system includes system structure and system process. The former refers to distribution of powers among main states while the latter refers to patterns and types of interaction among the units(usually nation states) in the system. As far as system process is concerned, behaviors of states will be less aggressive if there are some norms in the system (such as regular consultation mechanism). Therefore, the neutralization of small state will be easier to come true. As far as system structure is concerned, the balance of power structure is more favorable than the non-equilibrium structure in facilitating the neutralization of the small state. In addition, compared with a bipolar structure, it would be better for the small state's neutralization if there are three or more than three big powers in the system. Secondly, domestic situation of small state refers to the ability of the small state to conduct neutral diplomacy and to implement obligations as a neutralized state. If the small state is politically cohesive, its ruling party could easily come to consensus on neutral diplomacy. Besides, if the small state has self-defending ability to a certain extent, its domestic order would be effectively maintained and outside interference would be limited, which is helpful for its neutralization.As the international situation is always in flux, the author intends to divide the twenty years'history into two different phases according to the power shift in Korean Peninsular, namely the Chinese dominate period from the year 1882 to the year 1895 and the Russo-Japanese hegemony period from the year 1896 to the year 1905. Firstly, there was no consulting mechanism among big powers in the Northeast Asian regional system during the two phases. Big powers considered eternal territorial expanding as effective means to achieve their national interests, which would definitely restrict the neutralization of Korea. Secondly, the Northeast Asian regional structure during the first phase was formed a multipolar pattern characterized by Sino-Russo-Japanese rivalry. The balance of power among the three states was basically maintained, which was a favorable condition for the neutralization of Korea. However, China overrated its ability to maintain the dominance over Korean Peninsular. Combined with the rooted influence of the Suzerian-Vassal idea, China opposed the neutralization of Korea and finally adopted the policy that strengthening its suzerainty over Korea. During the second phase, the Northeast Asian regional structure was formed a bipolar pattern characterized by Russo-Japanese hegemony, which persuaded both powers' aggressive behaviors in Korean Peninsular. There was a power balance between Japan and Russia in Korean Peninsular from 1896 to 1898. But the two powers negotiated dividing up their benefits in Korea, rather than supporting Korea's neutralization, a project that would result in the loose of their benefits. Japan became more influential in Korea after 1898 partly because Russia shifted its attention from Korea to Manchuria. Russia expected preventing Korea from being invaded by Japan through proposals of Korea's neutralization. Obviously those proposals were strongly opposed by Japan, because Japan believed that only Russia would destroy its exclusive position in Korea at the cost of war after the withdrawal of Chinese forces. In short, Japan and Russia had never achieved consensus on Korea's neutralization from 1896 to 1905.Finally, during the whole twenty years'period, Korean government had never carried out effective reform to enhance its national defense forces while the factionalism of Korean ruling class was seriously disruptive, making its neutralization difficult to realize.