First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

Japan and China fought over influence in Korea, which had traditionally been a Chinese tributary state. The Japanese army and navy crushed Chinese forces. The Treaty of Shimonoseki gave Japan Taiwan, the Pescadores Islands, a huge indemnity, and recognition of Korean "independence" (preparing the way for Japanese domination of Korea). The war shocked the world by demonstrating that an Asian nation could defeat one of the great Asian empires using Western methods. It also accelerated Western imperial competition in China (the spheres of influence were largely established immediately after Japan's victory).