• Russo-Japanese War (1904–05): A conflict between Russia and Japan, mainly fought over influence in Manchuria and Korea.
• Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902): An agreement between Britain and Japan to maintain the status quo in the Far East and support each other in case of conflict with other powers.

• 🛤️ Russia's Interests in Manchuria & Korea:
  • After the First Sino-Japanese War, Russia sought to secure its interests in Manchuria and Korea.
  • In 1898, China allowed Russia to extend the Trans-Siberian Railway to Vladivostok and build the South Manchurian Railway.
  • Russia secured a 20-year lease on the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur, worsening relations with Japan.
• 🤝 Anglo-Japanese Alliance:
  • Japan, anticipating conflict with Russia, signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 with Britain.
  • The alliance committed both nations to maintaining the status quo in the Far East.
  • If one party faced conflict with more than one power, the other would remain neutral.
• ⚔️ Russo-Japanese War:
  • Negotiations between Russia and Japan failed, leading to the Japanese navy attacking the Russian Pacific Fleet on 8 February 1904 and declaring war on 10 February.
  • The war was fought on both land and sea, with the sinking of the Russian Baltic Fleet in the Tsushima Straits being a memorable event.
  • The conflict ended in October 1905.
• 📜 Treaty of Portsmouth:
  • US President Theodore Roosevelt negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the war.
  • Japan acquired South Sakhalin, the leasehold over the Liaodong Peninsula and Port Arthur, and control over the South Manchurian Railway.
  • Russia recognized Japanese interests in Korea, which became a protectorate of Japan in 1906 and its colony in 1910.
• 🎌 Impact of Japanese Imperialism:
  • Japan's foreign policy successfully expanded its interests in Korea and Manchuria.
  • This success boosted nationalism in Japan.
  • However, Japan's actions garnered mixed responses internationally.

Think of Japan's expansion into Manchuria and Korea as a business trying to expand its market share. If a company manages to expand its presence into new markets (like Japan did), it could lead to increased revenue (or in this case, resources and political influence). However, this can also provoke rivals (like Russia) and elicit mixed responses from other market players (like Britain and the US).