试论甲午战争前夜中、日、朝三国关系

On the Relations Between China, Japan and Korea Before the Eve of Jiawu War

甲午战争前夜,中、日、朝三国关系错综复杂。清朝政府以宗主国自居,应属国朝鲜之邀请,出兵"勘乱"。日本也乘机出兵朝鲜,并一再制造事端,有意激化中日矛盾。清朝政府既不愿与日本发生战争,又贪恋宗主国的虚名,陷入朝鲜问题的纠纷之中不能自拔。朝鲜则生存于中日纷争的夹缝之中,既希望得到中国的庇护,又对日本的威逼无力抗争。日本在展开外交活动的同时,积极进行战争准备,待时机完全成熟之后,挑起了甲午战争。

Before the eve of Jiawu War, the relations between China, Japan and Korea were very complicated. Regarding itself always as a suzerain, Qing Dynasty sent its army to suppress the uprising in Korea at its invitation. Japan also took the advantage and sent its army to Korea, and deliberately intensified the conflicts between China and Japan by frequently making troubles. Qing Dynasty didn't want to wage war against Japan, but at the same time couldn't get out of the mess because of its vanity. Korea, however, struggled for survival between the pressures from both Japan and China, hoping to be protected by China and unable to fight against the Japanese threat. Japan, while carrying out a series of diplomatic activities, actively prepared for the war. When everything was ready it enkindled the fire of war. 