Treaty of Shimonoseki

On April 17, 1895, the Qing court was forced to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan under the Meiji Government in Japan’s Shimonoseki.

According to Article 2 of the treaty, China ceded in perpetuity and full sovereignty the following territories to Japan, together with all fortifications, arsenals, and public property thereon:

(a) The southern portion of the province of Fêngtien within the following boundaries:

The line of demarcation begins at the mouth of the River Yalu and ascends that stream to the mouth of the River An-ping, from thence the line runs to Fêng-huang, from thence to Hai-cheng, from thence to Ying-kow, forming a line which describes the southern portion of the territory. The places named above are included in the ceded territory. When the line reaches the Liaohe River at Ying-kow, it follows the course of the stream to its mouth, where it terminates. The mid-channel of the Liaohe River shall be taken as the line of demarcation.

This cession also includes all islands appertaining or belonging to the province of Fêngtien situated in the eastern portion of the Bay of Liao-tung and the northern portion of the Yellow Sea.

(b) The island of Formosa and its affiliated islands.

(c) The Pescadores Group -- all islands lying between 119° and 120°E of Greenwich and 23° and 24° N.