“高升”号事件英方对中方索赔原因综论

Discussion of British Claims for Compensation Against China in the"Kowshing"Incident

高升号属怡和洋行旗下商船,1894年7月被清廷租借用来运送士兵,7月25日在丰岛附近海面被日舰"浪速"击沉。由于高升号当时所悬挂的是英国国旗,恰好中日当时尚未开战,一场本应由日本承担责任的事件,在经过各方讨论后,将责任方完全转向了中国。本文结合当时的史料,从外交、国际法、政治、新闻舆论等角度,对此事件的责任转换进行探讨。

Kowshing,a merchant ship of Jardine Matheson,was leased by the Qing government in July 1894 to transport soldiers.On July 25,it was sunk by the Japanese ship"Langsu"near Fengdao.As the flag of the United Kingdom was hung in the ship when it happened,and the war between China and Japan had not yet started,the incident that should have been Japan's responsibility shifted the blame completely to China after discussions among all parties.Based on the historical data at that time,this paper explores the responsibility conversion of this incident from the perspectives of diplomacy,international law,politics,news and public opinion.