Convention of Tientsin

The Tientsin Convention (天津条約, Tenshin Jōyaku^?) was an agreement signed between the Meiji period Empire of Japan and Qing Dynasty Empire of China in Tientsin, China on 18 April 1885. It was also called the "Li-Itō Convention".

Following the Kapsin Coup in Korea in 1884, tensions had been escalating between China and Japan over external influence over the Korean peninsula and royal family. Following extensive negotiations, Itō Hirobumi of Japan and Li Hongzhang of China attempted to defuse tensions by signing an agreement whereby:

1. Both nations would pull their expeditionary forces out of Korea within four months of the signing;
2. King Gojong of Korea would be advised to hire military instructors from a third nation for the training of the Korean army;
3. Neither nation would send troops to Korea without prior notification to the other side.

The Convention effectively eliminated China’s claim to exclusive influence over Korea, and made Korea a co-protectorate of both Japan and Qing. ^[1] Despite negotiations the Convention was no deterrent to either party, and the next serious confrontation over Korea quickly escalated into the First Sino-Japanese War.

References

• Beasley, W.G. (2000). The Rise of Modern Japan, 3rd Edition: Political, Economic, and Social Change since 1850. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0312233736. 
• Hsu, Immanuel C.Y. (1999). The Rise of Modern China. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195125045. 

Notes

1. ^ Hsu, the Rise of Modern China, pp.331