The Sino-Japanese Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 was a war of Japanese aggression against China and Korea at the end of 19. According to China's calendar, 1894, the time when the war broke out was the Sino-Japanese War, so it was called the Sino-Japanese War.

During the Meiji Restoration, Japan embarked on the capitalist road, actively invaded and expanded abroad, and determined a "mainland policy" centered on China.

At this time, the Qing Dynasty was an empire exposed to the world through the Westernization Movement, with political corruption, poor people's lives, intrigue among various factions in the officialdom, strong national defense and military, and lax discipline.

The world's major capitalist countries are gradually transitioning to imperialism, and Japan's aggression has been supported by western powers to some extent.

One of the reasons for the failure of the Sino-Japanese War: lack of foresight.

/kloc-In the late 20th century, the major capitalist countries have completed the transition to the imperialist stage, and the capital export is of great significance, which has caused more intense colonial competition.

Lenin analyzed that the imperialist powers "not only periodically re-divide the divided world, but also the competition for semi-independent countries will inevitably become particularly tense."

As a result, semi-colonial and semi-feudal China, with vast territory and abundant resources, became a piece of fat meat in the eyes of imperialist powers.

Since the Opium War, the imperialist aggression against China has never stopped. However, after the Sino-French War of 1884, it was relatively calm for about 10 years because of the busy struggle among the powers. The nerves of the Qing government relaxed a little. When people rejoice in the "friendliness" of western powers, a neighboring country in the East is eyeing it.

After the Meiji Restoration in Japan in 65438+ 1960' s, capitalism developed rapidly and combined with the spirit of feudal bushido to produce militarism, which was extremely expansionary and predatory.

Invading and defeating China is an established national policy of modern Japan.

1855, Japanese reformist politician Yoshida Matsuzaka argued: "Once the warship artillery is slightly enriched, it is easy to develop shrimp foreigners ... tell Ryukyu to make it a pilgrimage site; Accuse North Korea of paying tribute; Cut all the land in South China, take Taiwan Province Province and Luzon Islands, occupy all China and come to India. "

Yoshida's thoughts had a far-reaching influence on his disciples, such as Ito Bowen (Prime Minister of the Cabinet) and Yamagata Aritomo (Speaker of the Senate), who later became Japanese politicians, and became the mainstream thoughts of Japanese politicians.

At the beginning of Meiji Restoration, Japan laid the mainland policy. 1887, the Japanese general staff headquarters formulated the "master plan for the conquest of the Qing army" and decided to complete the preparations for the war against China before 1892.

The strike direction is Korea, Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, Penghu Islands, Taiwan Province Province and Zhoushan Islands.

Seven years later, Japan launched a war of aggression according to this timetable and road map, and almost achieved all its goals.

Japan has consistently implemented the above-mentioned national policy for decades, made full preparations in all aspects, and implemented eight "military expansion for the record" before and after.

In the years before the Sino-Japanese War, the average annual military expenditure was as high as 365,438+0% of the total income.

1887, the emperor ordered 300,000 yuan from the royal funds as a naval subsidy. Inspired by the emperor, rich people all over the country donated money in succession, exceeding 6,543,800 yuan a year.

Not only did it increase military spending, but it also greatly inspired people's hearts. While expanding its army, Japan sent a large number of spies to China and North Korea. Before the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, it drew a detailed map of every hill and road, including Korea and Liaodong Peninsula of China, Shandong Peninsula and Bohai Sea.

At that time, some people of insight in the Qing Dynasty, such as Shen Baozhen, Governor of Liangjiang and Liu Mingchuan, Governor of Taiwan Province, saw that "the Japanese should not be despised", but the court and most politicians' understanding of Japan was still at the stage of "a small country" and "not interested in the Japanese".

At the critical moment when Japan was fully expanding its army and the danger of war approached, the Qing Dynasty relaxed its national defense construction, cut its military budget on the grounds of financial shortage, stopped buying warships from 1888, and stopped allocating funds for naval equipment and ammunition from 189 1.