First Sino-Japanese War

The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) was a conflict between China and Japan primarily over influence and control of Korea. Japan sought to expand its empire, modernize, and gain access to markets, while China aimed to maintain its dominance in East Asia. Japan's modernized military quickly defeated China's outdated forces, leading to Japan's victory. The war resulted in China ceding Taiwan and Kanghwa Island to Japan and recognizing Korean independence, marking Japan's emergence as a major imperial power and signaling the decline of China's Qing Dynasty's influence in the region.