Formally declared on August 1, 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War was the earliest significant conflict between Asian nations in modern times. By the time it ended, some nine months later, it heralded the unexpected victory of Japan, the shocking defeat of China, and the transfer of the island of Taiwan from the latter to the former. In subsequent years, and especially after the consequent conflict between Japan and Russia over roughly the same territory a decade later, its long-term outcomes have also become apparent. Japan turned into a regional power and a primary player in the politics of East Asia and China underwent a revolution and remained weak and disunited, whereas Korea was annexed by Japan and completely lost its sovereignty.
The Sino-Japanese War also set the pattern for later wars in which Japan took on other rivals with greater populations, larger economies, and presumably stronger naval forces, such as...
