Asia 751
of the Xinjiang area, creating a kingdom named Kashgaria. An effort that began in
1864 and 1865, Beg had consolidated his position by 1870. Russia, mindful of the
strategic context with China and Great Britain (The Great Game), used its trade route
in the area as pretext to occupy the Ili River Valley as a precaution. Beg realized
how quickly the Russians acted and ultimately relented to the occupation. China was
unhappy with the occupation but was given assurances that the occupation would be
temporary. It took an additional 10 years before China was able to press the issue,
regaining the most important piece of the territory—Kulja (Ghulja)—in the 1881
Treaty of Saint Petersburg.
Coding changes: End Date changed from July 1871.
MID#3247
Dispute Number: 3247
Date(s): July 4, 1871 to January 4, 1872
Participants: 365 Russia/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: This dispute concerns the Russian occupation of the Ili Valley in 1871.
The territory lay in the gray area between Russia and China at the time—China con-
trolled the area but Russia wanted it. On June 24, 1871, over 1,800 Russian troops
crossed the border and defeated a local force approximately twice their size on June
- The town of Suiding was occupied on July 1. Local leadership, isolated from
contact with Beijing, surrendered on July 3. The city of Ili was occupied on July
4, prompting a Russian declaration that the territory was Russian “in perpetuity.”
China’s problem was logistical in nature. It did not know of the Russian moves into
Ili until September 1, 1871. Its best response was to try to recall its former military
governor to the area, Yongchuan, to return. However, Yongchuan had fled to Mongo-
lia and his return only occurred in May 1872. China tried protesting to Russia about
this incident, though Russia vowed that it was actually helping China by “recovering”
Ili from the Muslim population.
Effectively, Russia occupied the territory until 1883, exchanging Ili for generous
concessions elsewhere.
Coding changes: Start day changed from Missing. End day changed from Missing.
MID#104
Dispute Number: 104
Date(s): March 1880 to June 1880
Participants: 365 Russia/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: In 1879, Russia and China signed a treaty at Livadia in Crimea whereby
the Ili territory would be returned to China upon payment of 5,000,000 rubles.
However, the Russians were to keep the Tekkes River Valley, which was the fertile