Japan's Action And Intention Around The Sino-french War

The Sino-French War (1883-1885) was a conflict fought between China and France for the sovereignty of Vietnam. Japan had not involved in the war on the surface, but been kept close contact with France in this period. Japan helped France a lot secretly. The rumors about "Sino-Japanese relations unstable" and "Japan-France combining" were spread widely. So Qing had to beware of the attack from Japan at the same time. In 1884, Japan hatched "the Korea Gapsin Coup" which forced Qing to distract attention from the Sino-French war. It has some effects on the Sino-French war and the Sino-Japanese relations.Most of prior studies about the Sino-French war are concernd with Qing, France and Vietnam that are involved in the war. There are only few studies which mention the effect of other counties (especially Japan) in the war. Based on the prior studies and new-discovered historical materials, this paper analysed Japan's action and intention in the period of Sino-French war, and discussed the relations between Japan and Sino-French war.This paper is divided into three chapters. In chapter 1, the author discussed the Sino-Japanese relations before the Sino-French war. As the aggression of western powers was intensified, both Qing and Japan were impacted strongly. After First Opium War, Qing became semi-colony gradually. However, Japan rose step by step through the Meiji Restoration. Japan started to expand abroad and invade Qing and Korea repeatedly.In chapter 2, the author mainly analysed Japan's action and intention in the period of Sino-French war. Firstly, the background and process of Sino-French war are acounted. Secondly, Japan's reaction to the war is discussed through the rumors of "Sino-Japanese relations unstable" and "Japan-France combining". Thirdly, the author discussed the background and process of "the Korea Gapsin Coup" and the effect of "the Tianjin Treaty", analysed the relation between "the Tianjin Treaty" and Sino-French war. Fourthly, Japan had given attention to Taiwan in the period of Sino-French war.In chapter 3, the author discussed Japan's action and intention after the Sino-French war. Through analysing public opinions and the international situation of East Asia after the Sino-French war, Japan's expansion intention is exposed clearly. Japan started to committed to the military expansion.In the end, the relationship between Sino-French war and Japan is summarized, and also the influences of Sino-French war are discussed on a generalized view.Three points could be figured out via the discussion. Firstly, Japan plot and instigated the Korea Gapsin Coup based on that Qing was busy with Sino-French war; after that coup, Japan got it clearly that Qing would definitely climb-down, because its worry about being converging attacked by both France and Japan, and so Japan started to deal with the Korea Gapsin Coup. So, Sino-French war provides a nice chance to Japan for the buildup of its power and elbow out Qing in Korea, and that thus has an important influence on the future Sino-Japanese relations. Secondly, the happening of the Korea Gapsin Coup also has a certain extent influence on Sino-French war. The latent intimidation that Japan could join the war possibly could be one of the reasons why Qing was anxious to propose "make peace under the cover of victory" to France, after it got the Zhennanguan great victory. Besides, Qing and France signed the "Sino-France New Convention" after Sino-French war. The lost of Qing on diplomatism, which just is the lost of suzerainty of Viet Nam, arose Japan's appetency on scrabble for Korea. But the victory on military affairs of Qing made Japan be aware of the importance of enhancing armament, to achieve the ambition of monopolizing Korea; Japan expedited its steps of armament buildup.Mid of 19 century is the metaphase when China-Japan Relations started to change, and based on Sino-Japanese relations in this era, this article analysed mainly Japan's actions in Sino-French war and the influences on Sino-Japanese relations, and also discussed the preparation, on such as the consensus and military affairs, made by Japan to scrabble for Korea after the war. Ten years later, Japan started the war to Qing, and the Sino-Japanese relations changed definitively.