808 Chapter 6
MID#2205
Dispute Number: 2205
Date(s): August 13, 1916 to February 13, 1917
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: On August 13, 1916, Japanese and Chinese troops clashed in Zhengjiatun
(Manchuria). Japanese troops then remained in Zhengjiatun throughout the rest of
1916 and the beginning of 1917, producing a stalemate with the Japanese holding a
small portion of Chinese territory. On April 13, 1917, the Japanese troops withdrew
from Zhengjiatun to enter Outer Mongolia and take advantage of disarray in Russia;
the new Russian government’s forces were later able to force the Japanese off the
mainland.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from August 1, 1916. End Date changed from
April 13, 1917.
MID#1777
Dispute Number: 1777
Date(s): May 7, 1918 to July 19, 1919
Participants: 740 Japan/710 China
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 26–100 deaths
Narrative: MID#043 resulted in China being compelled to lease Kiaochow Bay
for 99 years to Germany. In August 1914, Japan, envious of the territory, used the
outbreak of World War I as cover to demand the transfer of the Kiachow lease to
China. It followed that with a successful military campaign in Shantung, with the
Japanese ultimately controlling Shantung by November. Afterward, Japan issued its
“21 demands” regarding China’s acquiescence, recognition of Japanese rights and the
transfer of the Kiaochow lease. China, unable to better its position, began negotiating
in the spring of 1915. A treaty was signed on May 25, 1915, after Japan grew weary
of negotiations and threatened the use of force to meet its demands. In it, the terms de
facto imposed on China involved China acquiescing to any agreement between Japan
and Germany and China granting Japan the right to finance railways from Chefoo or
Lungkow to the Tsinan-Kiaochow railway and to open Shantung to foreigners. China
insisted that the terms imposed on it were null shortly after signing the treaty. How-
ever, with Japan joining the war effort late against Germany, the Treaty of Versailles
gave Japan legitimated control of the territory in China. Beijing was still reluctant
to follow suit until the United States pressured China to a compromise at the Wash-
ington Conference of 1921–1922. In it, Japan was to transfer the railway within 9
months and evacuate military personnel within 30 days after that. The railway was
transferred, but the military occupation continued. This set up a future crisis between
the two in 1927.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 1918.