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The Treaty of Shimonoseki (下関条約), called the Treaty of
Maguan (馬關條約) in
Chinese, was signed on
April 17,
1895 between
China and
Japan.
It ended the
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) in favor of Japan. In the treaty China
recognized the independence of
Korea and renounced any claims, ceded the southern portion of Fengtien
(current
Shenyang,
Liaoning) province, the islands of
Formosa and the
Pescadores Islands to Japan. China also paid Japan a war indemnity of
200 million Kuping
taels, and opened various ports and rivers to international entry and
trade.
The treaty was signed by Count
Ito Hirobumi and Viscount
Mutsu Munemitsu for the Emperor of Japan and
Li Hung-Chang and
Li Ching-Fong on behalf of the Emperor of China.
The harsh conditions imposed on China led to the Triple
Intervention of
Russia,
France, and
Germany. They demanded that Japan withdrew its claim on Fengtien
province, concerned that
Port Arthur would fall under Japanese control. In November 1895 Japan
withdrew its claim on Fengtien province in return for an increased war
indemnity from China. The European powers were not concerned with any of
the other conditions, or the 'free hand' Japan had been granted in Korea.
Port Arthur was later granted to Russia as a concession in
1898.
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