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After 2 weeks of business talk, let's come back to my usual topics. This week we cover a time where David beat Goliath, where the person poking the bear comes up on top. I am of course talking about the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. Let's take a look at what caused all this kerfuffle.
Background
The Meiji restoration in Japan triggered wide scale industrialisation and adoption of western ideals. Throughout this period Japan was keen to expand its territory and fortify its power in East Asia. In the meantime, Russia was looking to establish a port to the Pacific Ocean as Vladivostok would only be ice free during the summer months due to its geographic location. Efforts to fortify power by the Japanese caused the Sino-Japanese war to break out. The aftermath of this war saw the Liaodong peninsula ceded to Japan amongst other territories. The Liaodong peninsula was the perfect place for Russia to establish its warm water port. Afraid of Russia’s further influence in East Asia, Japan offered to recognise Russia’s dominance in Manchuria in exchange for recognition of its own influence in Korea. Russia, determined to establish its warm water port, started sending fleets of ships to Port Arthur on the Liaodong Peninsula. While also coercing Manchuria in granting them a lease to the region even though it was under Japanese control.
Breakout
On December 6th 1904, Japanese fleets launched a surprise attack on the Russian ships at Port Arthur in retaliation. The Russians suffered heavy casualties allowing the Japanese to advance further north, almost reaching Vladivostok. The war went on for a year and a half and concluded when both sides agreed to a cease fire mediated by US president Theodore Roosevelt.
Aftermath
The war resulted in the Treaty of Portsmouth, in which Japan gained control of the Liaodong peninsula, the South Manchurian Railway and half of Sakhalin Island. The defeat of Russia in this war shook a country on the brink of revolution and ultimately played a big part in overthrowing Tsar Nicholas II. This defeat also halted the ambitions of Russia of inserting influence and expansion in East Asia. The triumph of Japan marks the first major military victory for an Asian country against a European power in the modern era.
There you go, the time the samurai slain the Russian black bear to gain power over the ocean.
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