Asia 803
Coding changes: Start day changed from Missing. End day changed from Missing.
MID#1489
Dispute Number: 1489
Date(s): March 30, 1874 to October 31, 1874
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Japan and China clashed over the island of Formosa (present-day Tai-
wan). Japan had already made plans for annexation of the island, choosing to take
Formosa over Korea. China learned of the Japanese intentions for Formosa and con-
fronted Japan, citing international law. In October of that same year, Japan and China
attempted to resolve the issue through diplomacy. Japan soon found diplomacy unnec-
essary and attempted to end proceedings. Upon communication with Great Britain that
Japanese occupation of Formosa would be met with great displeasure by the British,
Japan and China negotiated an agreement with British assistance on October 31, 1874.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 17, 1874. End Date changed from
December 3, 1874.
MID#2200
Dispute Number: 2200
Date(s): June 10, 1875 to December 14, 1876
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: As Japan Westernized, it became more and more interested in territorial
expansion. As early as 1868, the idea of Asian conquest was on the government’s
mind. The grand plan for conquest was to start slow, annexing the weak and easy to
take islands. Because Japan had secretly been in joint control of the Ryukyu Islands,
taking full control from China was deemed a first measure to conquest. On June 10,
1875, Japan declared it would station troops in the Ryukyu Islands. On July 14, 1875,
the Japanese government forbade the Ryukyu King to pay on his tributaries to China
and garrisoned Japanese forces on the islands. The Japanese proceeded to reorganize
the Ryukyu administration of the islands toward an imposition of Japanese culture.
China did not retaliate, nor did it resort to any military threat to stop the Japanese.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 1875. End Date changed from
December 12, 1875.
MID#2201
Dispute Number: 2201
Date(s): March 25, 1879 to October 31, 1879
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)