Triple Intervention
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The Tripartite Intervention or Triple Intervention (三国干渉 Sangoku Kansho?) was a diplomatic intervention by Russia, Germany and France on 23 April 1895 over the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki signed between Japan and Qing dynasty China, which ended the First Sino-Japanese War.
Per the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Japan was awarded the Liaodong peninsula including the harbor city of Port Arthur, which it had conquered from China. Immediately after the terms of the treaty became public, several European countries (each with its own sphere of influence in China) expressed concern about Japanese territorial ambitions on the Asian mainland and the possible impact of the terms of the treaty on the stability of China. Russia, Germany and France offered 'friendly advice' to Japan to return the territory to China in exchange for a larger indemnity, or to face war.
The Japanese government reluctantly agreed to this, as British and American diplomatic intercession was not forthcoming, and Japan was in no position to militarily resist the three major European powers. On 5 May 1895, Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi announced the withdrawal of Japanese forces from the Liaodong Peninsula in exchange for an additional indemnity of 30 million kuping taels (450 million yen). The last Japanese troops departed in December.
Much to Japan's astonishment and consternation, Russia moved almost immediately to occupy the entire Liaodong Peninsula and especially, to fortify Port Arthur. Germany, France and even Great Britain took advantage of the weakened China to seize port cities on various pretexts, and to expand their spheres of influence.
This humiliation at the hands of the European powers helped lead to the Gashin Shōtan or 'Persevering through Hardship' (for the sake of revenge) ideology in Japan to increase heavy industry and strength of the armed forces, especially the navy, at the expense of individual wants and needs. It was also a direct cause of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05).