The Russo-Japanese War: How Russia Created the Instrument of Their Defeat

Russia expanded into East Asia with flagrant disregard for the interests and concerns of Japan and the ramifications of their actions. Moreover, Russia failed to conduct diplomatic relations with Japan in good faith which added to historical tensions between the two belligerents. Russian and Japanese imperialist aspirations came into conflict from the onset of Russia's entry into the Far East in 1860. Japan repeatedly attempted to negotiate with Russia to no avail. The Sino-Japanese War was caused by Japan's fear of Russian expansion into Korea. With the Treaty of Shimonoseki, Russia robbed Japan of what it had rightfully won. War could have been averted had Russia conducted further diplomatic negotiations in good faith. However, Russia continued to underestimate Japan and expanded into Korea. Japan exhausted all diplomatic efforts to resolve the disputes over Manchuria and Korea.