Asia 765
365 RUSSIA/740 JAPANMID#227
Dispute Number: 227
Date(s): March 13, 1861 to September 19, 1861
Participants: 365 Russia/200 United Kingdom, 740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (None)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: On March 13, 1861, an exploratory Russian mission arrived along the
eastern coast of the Japanese island of Tsushima. A skirmish between samurai and
Russian troops occurred on March 21 in which one samurai and one farmer were
killed. The Japanese government pleaded with the British to help stop the Russian
imperialist incursion on Japanese soil. The British complied by sending two warships
to the port of Tsushima on August 28. On September 19, the Russian ship left the
island.
Coding changes: End Date changed from September 21, 1861.
MID#2721
Dispute Number: 2721
Date(s): July 12, 1871 to January 12, 1872
Participants: 365 Russia/740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Russian fully occupied Sakhalin Island in 1871, even though Japan
claimed the island for itself. Sakhalin had long been an issue for Russia and Japan in
establishing their respective borders. Both Russian and Japanese settlers had inhabited
the island, but were struggling to resolve the issue through diplomacy. A breakthrough
occurred four years later, in May 1875, when Japan concluded its first treaty regarding
the territory. In exchange for the Japanese dropping their claims to Sakhalin, Russia
agreed to cede the Kuril Islands. Japan agreed to respect the rights of Russians living
in the Kuril Islands while Russia agreed to do the same for Japanese in Sakhalin.
Emigration of Japanese living in Sakhalin and Russians living in the Kuril Islands
was not compulsory. An additional agreement was tacked on whereby Japanese living
in Sakhalin and vice versa were to become nationalized citizens.
Coding changes: Outcome changed from Compromise. Settlement changed from
Negotiated.
MID#3207
Dispute Number: 3207
Date(s): October 17, 1953 to June 20, 1954
Participants: 365 Russia/740 Japan
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None