Sino-Japanese War still stings China 120 years later

[Viet]

Nishinshensso 1894-1895
(日清戦争 1894–1895)




I. Sensu No Teikoku Sengen - The Imperial Japanese Declaration of War

We, by the Grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the Throne occupied by the same Dynasty from time immemorial, do hereby make proclamation to all Our loyal and brave subjects as follows:-
We hereby declare war against China, and we command each and all our competent authorities, in obedience to our wish and with a view to the attainment of the national aim, to carry on hostilities by sea and by land against China, with all the means at their disposal, consistently with the Law of Nations. "During the past three decades of our reign our constant aim has been to further the peaceful progress of the country in civilization; and, being sensible of the evils inseparable from complications with foreign States, it has always been our pleasure to instruct our Minister of State to labour for the promotion of friendly relations with our Treaty Powers. We are gratified to know that the relations of our Empire with those Powers have yearly increased in goodwill and in friendship. Under the circumstances, we were unprepared for such a conspicuous want of amity and of good faith as has been manifested by China in her conduct towards this country in connection with the Korean affair.

Korea is an independent State. She was first introduced into the family of nations by the advice and guidance of Japan. It has, however, been China's habit to designate Korea as her dependency, and both openly and secretly to interfere with her domestic affairs. At the time of the recent insurrection in Korea, China despatched troops thither, alleging that her purpose was to afford a succor to her dependent State. We, in virtue of the treaty concluded with Korea in 1882, and looking to possible emergencies, caused a military force to be sent to that country.

Wishing to procure for Korea freedom from the calamity of perpetual disturbance, and thereby to maintain the peace of the East in general, Japan invited China's co-operation for the accomplishment of the object. But China, advancing various pretexts, declined Japan's proposal. Thereupon Japan advised Korea to reform her administration so that order and tranquility might be preserved at home, and so that the country might be able to discharge the responsibilities and duties of an independent State abroad. Korea has already consented to undertake the task. But China has secretly and insidiously endeavored to circumvent and to thwart Japan's purpose. She has further procrastinated and endeavored to make warlike preparations both on land and at sea. When those preparations were completed she not only sent large reinforcements to Korea, with a view to the forcible attainment of her ambitious designs, but even carried her arbitrariness and insolence to the extent of opening fire upon our ships in Korean waters. China's plain object is to make it uncertain where the responsibility resides of preserving peace and order in Korea, and not only to weaken the position of that state in the family of nations- a position obtained for Korea through Japan's efforts-but also to obscure the significance of the treaties recognizing and confirming that position. Such conduct on the part of China is not only a direct injury to the rights and interests of this Empire, but also a menace to the permanent peace and tranquility of the Orient. Judging from her actions it must be concluded that China from the beginning has been bent upon sacrificing peace to the attainment of her sinister object. In this situation, ardent as our wish is to promote the prestige of the country abroad by strictly peaceful methods, we find it impossible to avoid a formal declaration of war against China. It is our earnest wish that, by the loyalty and valour of our faithful subjects, peace may soon be permanently restored and the glory of the Empire be augmented and completed.
Given this 1st day of the eighth month of the 27th year of Meiji

at that time Japan looks more a modern western country than one of east asia. from dress to weapons to ceremony. you seem to copy a lot from the British.

 

[zxmint]

Call us shameless, it doesn't really bother us. We do what we can, even intentionally grounding an old navy ship in OUR own territory, to protect it from foreign aggressors. Like any civilized nation, we tried to seek for UN arbitration but somehow the other party didn't want to be involved in it.

Just tell me one thing, where was that rubbish vessel before 1999? And what excuse you made to make it "stranded" there? We did not expel it due to humanism, and you made use of our sympathy. Let's make a bet: Your refugee-like marine troops will either retreat or got expeled or arrested or got shot which is the worst case in no more than 5 years from now. Don't count on American's all the time, even if you become the 52nd state of U.S., we will get back what belonged to us.

 

[zxmint]

It would be nice if the Philippines could work things out with China but China does what she wants. We offer to settle things in a court of law, she ignores and uses military force to anything that blocks her way.

Cmmon, do you really think that China cannot win the lawsuit? We don't even need to bribe the law court and it just dare not to judge China's territory. If an international law court really work on sovereignty disputes, then why we need military forces? Let's go to the court! That is just funny fairy tale. If the court adjudicates that Manila belongs to China, would you obey it?

 

[terranMarine]

Cmmon, do you really think that China cannot win the lawsuit? We don't even need to bribe the law court and it just dare not to judge China's territory. If an international law court really work on sovereignty disputes, then why we need military forces? Let's go to the court! That is just funny fairy tale. If the court adjudicates that Manila belongs to China, would you obey it?

Bush made sure no American soldier would be trialed in the international court of justice. An excellent example