Asia 807
favoring the alliance with Japan, coerced China into signing a September 4, 1909,
agreement that gave Japan considerable input into the Hsinmint’un-Fakumin railway.
Another agreement was signed that same day that recognized Japanese control over
the Chientao area.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 22, 1909.
MID#260
Dispute Number: 260
Date(s): September 2, 1914 to May 25, 1915
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Japan responded to Great Britain’s request to make good on the Anglo-
Japanese pact, especially as it pertained to Germany’s growing presence in China.
This request was made to Japan on August 7, and Japan, behind closed doors, decided
on war on August 8. Japan gave an ultimatum to Germany on August 18, echoing the
“advice” Germany gave to it in 1895.
Japan admonished Germany: withdraw the vessels in Japanese/Chinese waters and
cede Kiaochow to Japan under the auspice of eventual restoration to China. Germany
had until August 23 to respond. Germany denied the demands, and Japan declared war
against Germany, openly, on August 24.
Japan soon routed the German interests in China, including the German naval base
at Tsingtao (ultimately surrendered to Japan on November 10) and eradicated all
German interests in Shangtung (railroads, coal mines, and so on) in the same month.
This led to a controversy with China, which had controlling interests in the railways
in Shangtung, which was temporarily settled by a November 25 agreement between
both China and Japan.
China was still caught in the middle. Japan also wanted to maximize its leverage in
China as well, getting implicit approval of the European Powers for being a participant
in World War I on behalf of the Entente. With the Germans routed in Kiachow, Japan
sought the transfer of the Kiachow lease. China preferred that Japan leave altogether.
Japan, mindful of the ongoing war with Germany, was infuriated by China’s obsti-
nance, issuing the “21 demands” on January 18, 1915.
China successfully stalled through the winter months, fomenting anti-Japanese
sentiment in hopes that foreign intervention would come. With no foreign interven-
tion imminent, China started negotiating on March 25, 1915. Japan agreed to drop
the last seven “demands,” also giving other concessions in order to move forward to
a resolution. When China used the backdrop of negotiation and Japanese concessions
to stall even further, Japan resorted to coercion again, and, alleging insincerity on the
part of China, Japan gave another ultimatum on May 7. The ultimatum: accept the
revised demands that Japan and China initially agreed to, or the Japanese would take
“independent action as they deem necessary to meet the situation.” China relented on
May 9, leading to the May 25 agreement.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from September 26, 1914. Settlement changed
from Negotiated.