1911–1912: The Battle of Yangxia in the Xinhai Uprising

Author: Chen Guo'an / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In 1904-1905, a strange event called "fighting on borrowed land" occurred. Japan and Russia fought a brutal battle on Chinese territory, which was the Russo-Japanese War. On February 6, 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet in Port Arthur, followed by the Japanese army crossing the Yalu River and entering the Liaodong and Shenyang regions. The two sides then fought a major battle on Chinese soil. "Fighting on borrowed land" was already strange enough, but what was even stranger was that the Qing government, whose territorial sovereignty was severely violated, declared "neutrality as a non-party" on February 12. The imperial edict stated: "Now that Japan and Russia are at odds and using military force, the court deeply regrets that both are friendly countries and should handle it according to the example of neutrality as a non-party. It is hereby ordered that all military and civilian officials in the provinces to issue orders to their subordinates and inform the people to comply with this decree to strengthen diplomatic relations and uphold the great cause, without any negligence." At the same time, it ordered local governors and supervisors to "seriously protect" the property and embassies and churches of all countries, and to "quickly investigate and punish" any bandits who spread rumors and caused trouble. Two robbers with bared fangs had come to the house, yet the Qing government claimed "both are friendly countries" and forbade the people from resisting. In fact, the war was being fought on Chinese territory—how could it be "neutral"? The so-called "neutrality as a non-party" was nothing but self-deception. Moreover, the Qing court designated the area east of the Liao River as a "war zone for the two countries." The two nations did as they pleased for their own interests: Japanese warships even sailed to Yantai, far from the combat area, to snatch away Russian torpedo boats that had already been detained by the Chinese navy; the Russian army paid no heed to whether it was "outside" or "inside" the conflict and in Northeast China. Under the Qing government's "neutrality as a non-party," the vast land and countless people of Northeast China were subjected to the brutal devastation of the two robbers. The armies of both sides looted horses and livestock, demanded silver, money, grain, and grass, burned official and residential buildings, destroyed villages and farmland, forced Chinese people into hard labor, and even committed rape and murder, doing everything in their power. The area around Shengjing was completely "engulfed in gunfire and artillery shells, with tens of thousands of lives lost in the forests of cannons and mines. Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, homes were destroyed, and fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles wept on the roads, while husbands and wives and relatives howled in the streets. The pain was unbearable, and the suffering was unbearable to hear." "From Port Arthur northward to the outside of the (Willow Branch) Wall, wherever the large Russian and Japanese armies passed, soybeans, millet, and sorghum were cut down to feed horses, covering thousands of miles as if it were a bare land." The rural areas were "poor people as numerous as fish in a pond," and refugees "flocked together like ants." The cries of those fleeing and suffering could be heard everywhere. Refugees in various places lived "exposed in the cold and snow," with dirty hair and faces like beggars, starving and shivering, with dead bodies piled on top of each other. After more than a year of fighting, Russia was defeated by Japan, both in land and naval battles; Japan, exhausted, had to pretend to be the victor. Under the mediation of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, representatives of both sides began peace talks in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA, on August 9, 1905. As the talks were about to begin, the Qing Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately notified Russia and Japan, declaring that it would not recognize any issues involving China that had not been discussed with China. The notification stated: "Last year, your country and Russia (Japan) unfortunately had a dispute, and the Chinese government deeply regrets it. Now that peace talks are about to begin and old friendships are being restored, the Chinese government is overjoyed. However, this dispute involved military action on Chinese territory. In the terms to be discussed, if any issues involving China are included, those that have not been discussed with China this time will not be recognized at all. This has been communicated to the minister plenipotentiary by telegraph and delivered to your government in advance for declaration." Japan and Russia paid no attention to the Qing government, which was in a precarious situation, regarding this notification. Although nine-tenths of the issues discussed in the negotiations involved China, they did not consult the Qing government at all. On September 5, 1905, the two countries reached a dirty agreement to carve up Northeast China. The main contents were: "The Russian government, with the permission of the Chinese government, transfers all rights and concessions, including a portion of the leasehold rights for Port Arthur, Dalian Bay, and adjacent territories and waters, to the Japanese government. The Russian government also transfers all public buildings and property constructed in this leased territory to the Japanese government. The Russian government agrees to transfer the railway from Changchun to Port Arthur, all branch lines, and all rights and property associated with it, to the Japanese government. The Russian government agrees to permanently cede southern Sakhalin and all islands to the Japanese government." China thus became the on the chopping block, to be carved up at the whim of Japan and Russia! From November 7 to December 22, 1905, Japanese representatives also negotiated with the Qing government in Beijing, forcing it to recognize the carve-up agreement between Japan and Russia. Prince Qing, Yi Kui, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Yuan Shikai, the Viceroy of Zhili, representing the Qing government, signed the "Treaty on the Matter of Northeast China" and formally recognized the terms of the Portsmouth Treaty, allowing Japan to inherit Russia's interests in South Manchuria. This "strange war" exposed the corruption and incompetence of the Qing government. Behind the facade of "neutrality as a non-party" lay the weakness and vulnerability of the Qing government. It not only lacked the power to drive out the invaders and protect national sovereignty and people's interests but even succumbed to the invaders. The result was the loss of sovereignty and the suffering of the people. On the vast territory of Northeast China, in addition to Russia, another fierce enemy—Japan—appeared. P22-23