1874年大久保利通北京谈判的动因与影响

Causes and Influences of Okubo Toshimichi's Negotiation in Beijing in 1874

1872年,明治天皇册封琉球国王为"琉球藩王"。为切实斩断清琉之间的宗藩关系,日本企图以前一年台湾生番杀人为借口出兵问罪当地土人。1873年,外务卿副岛种臣就生番之地领属权试探清国态度,取得了"置之化外"和"政令未及"的口实。1874年5月,西乡从道率军出兵台湾。就在国际舆论对日不利和中日剑拔弩张之时,大久保利通亲赴北京,与总理衙门进行七次外交上的折冲樽俎,谈判几度破裂。后经英国驻华公使威妥玛居中调停,双方和解并签署《中日北京专条》。日本承认中国对台湾全岛领属权,中国未否认日本出兵合理性并赔款白银五十万两。这场让清政府无奈妥协的谈判为日本吞琉球、攻朝鲜、占台湾埋下了祸根。

gjg In 1872,Emperor Meiji canonized King of the Ryukyu Islands"Ryukyu Prince".To cut off the suzerain-vassal relationship between the Ryukyu Islands and Qing Dynasty,Japan attempted to use the incident of killing by aboriginal head-hunters in 1871 in Taiwan as an excuse of expediting to chastise the aborigines.In 1873,Foreign Minister SOEJIMA TANEOMI probed China’s attitude towards the sovereignty and control over the east coast of Taiwan and obtained such verbal expressions as "Outside Territory of Jurisdiction"and "Beyond Influence of Civilization".In May1874,the SAIGO JUDO-led troops invaded Taiwan.Right when international public opinions were against Japan and the two sides were at loggerheads,OKUBO TOSHIMICHI visited Beijing and negotiated seven rounds with the Tsungli Yamen,yet nothing further resulted.Then,British Minister Thomas Wade to China offered to break the impasse,and a Treaty of Beijing was signed by China and Japan.Japan recognized China’s possessive right of the whole island of Taiwan.China did not deny Japan’s expedition as rational and paid indemnities with silver totaling 500,000 liang(a unit of weight).That China could not help but compromise in this negotiation led to the curse of Japan’s annexation of Ryukyu Islands,war over Korea and occupation of Taiwan.