1880
Tamaki Shishido, Japanese embassy to China, sent a proposal to China’s Zongli Geguo Shiwu Yamen (the government office in charge of foreign affairs)。 It indicated that “Japan approves the islands of Gonggu and Bachongshan in south Ryukyu to be under the jurisdiction of the Qing Empire so that the boundaries of the two countries1885
A Japanese named Tatsushiro Koga came to Diaoyu Islands without China’s approval to collect feathers and marine products, requesting the Okinawa authorities for “renting” of the Islands。
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Japan sent a confidential message to Yoshi Morinaga, the Chief Secretary of Ryukyu。 The order was to let him secretly survey Diaoyu Islands with the intention of erecting national boundary marks there。
“An Alarming Dispatch from Taiwan” (Shen Bao, Sept。 6, 1885, Shanghai) exposed Japan’s attempt on Diaoyu Islands: “There are Japanese recently on the Island to the north of Taiwan hoisting the Japanese flag with the intention of occupying it。” (Sept。 6)Hyogo Ishizawa, a subordinate official of Okinawa, reported to his superior Sutezou Nishimura, the county magistrate of Okinawa, about the naming of the Diaoyu Islands: The isles of Jiumichi, Jiuchang and Yudiao are Chiwei Island, Huangwei Island and Diaoyu Tai respectively in Zhongshan Chuan Xin Lu。 (Sept。 21)Okinawa magistrate Sutezou Nishimura reported to Minister of Internal Affairs of Japan, Aritomo Yamagata that “The Diaoyu Islands were well-known to Chinese Cefengshi (s)。 They were sent to Ryukyu by the emperor of the Qing court to confer the former Ryukyu sovereigns with the title of King Zhongshan。 Each island is already named by the Chinese and is served as navigation marks。 This is well known to all。 It might not be appropriate to erect national boundary marks after surveying the Islands。” (This is regarding to the confidential instruction sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Japan) (Sept。 22)On Jing Bao (Jing newspaper, Oct。 13, Beijing), Imperial edict issued two orders:
(1) To establish Zongli HaiJun Shiwu Yamen (Government Office in charge of Navy Affairs); (2) To found Taiwan Provincial Military Government。 Tanenori Shimoda, the interim Japanese ambassador in Qing Empire, and Syougorou Hatano, the Japanese consul general in Tianjin, promptly telegraphed the news to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan。 (Oct。 13)Kaoro Inoue, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, sent a confidential letter to Aritomo Yamagada: Now that “the Islands to the NE of Taiwan” are “owned by the Qing Empire” and “they had named each of the Islands。” “In recent days, the newspapers in Qing Empire reported that our government intended to occupy the Islands, urging their government to pay close attention to this matter。” As to erecting national boundary marks, “it can be postponed until sometime later。” We may continue to survey secretly, “but this should not be reported in newspapers”; “wait for a better opportunity in the future。” (Oct。 21)The Okinawa magistrate sent a memorandum to Aritoma Yamagada, asking for instruction again。 (Nov。 5)The Minister of Internal Affairs of Japan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan jointly gave an official reply in writing to the Okinawa magistrate: “Memorandum received。 The task of erecting national boundary marks on the Diaoyu Islands should be put off some days。 Okinawa magistrate, please make sure to follow this new instruction。” (Dec。 4)1886
Satezo Nishimura, the Okinawa magistrate, wrote a book: Account of the Southern Islands。 There was no record of the Diaoyu Islands, either in the text of the book or on the attached map of the 36 Islands。 This demonstrates that Satezo Nishimura clearly knew that the Diaoyu Islands did not belong to Okinawa。
1890
The Okinawa Magistrate requested instruction about erecting marks on the Diaoyu Islands。 (Jan。 13)1893
Okinawa Magistrate requested instructions for the third time about erecting navigation marks。 (Nov。 2)1894
Tatsushiro Koga requested the Okinawa authorities for renting the Diaoyu Islands, for which he applied nine years before。 The Okinawa Government returned his application。
The Japanese army forces in Korea launched a surprise attack on the Chinese army。 The Qing Government was forced to declare war against Japan。 (Aug。 1st)The Chinese army was defeated at Pyongyang。 (Sep。 15th) The Japanese army crossed the Yalu River and seized the Town of Jiulian, the Town of Fenghuang, etc。
In the naval battle on the Yellow Sea, China’s Beiyang Navy squadron suffered heavy losses。 By way of sea route the Japanese army attacked Liaoning and seized Jinzhou, Dalian, and Lushun。 (Sept。 17)Facing a losing battle, Li Hongzhang petitioned the Qing court to dispatch De Cuilin (Detring Gustav von), the commission of Tianjin Custom, to Japan to probe for peace, which Japan refused。 (Nov。)Because of a winning battle in hand and his confidence of success, Osamu Nomura, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Japan, wrote a confidential letter to Munemitsu Michinoku, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, saying that “things are different now,” and expressed his intention of placing the task of annexing the Diaoyu Islands on the agenda of the Japanese Cabinet。 (Dec。 27)1895
Munemitsu Michinoku approved the plan of Osama Nomura to annex the Diaoyu Islands。 (Jan。 11)The bill concerning anneing the Diaoyu Islands was passed by the Japanese Cabinet。 (Jan。 14)The Japanese Army captured Niuzhuang (the Village of Niu)。 (March 3rd)Japanese Army captured Penghu Islands。 (April)The Treaty of Shimonoseki was concluded and signed。 (April 17)China and Japan exchanged instruments of ratification。 (May 8)People in Taiwan rose to protest against the cession of Taiwan。
Japanese Emperor Meiji (Meiji-tennō) ordered Shinanojou Arichi to serve as the command of the Expeditionary Fleet to Taiwan and asked him to report to Sukenori Kabayama, the Japanese Taiwan-Governor-to-be。 (May 11)“By 9 a。m。 The Governor Sukenori Kabayama reached a spot of 25 4 N, 123 5 E, 5 nautical miles of the south coast of Senkaku Island。” (May 29)At 21, Japan took over Taiwan。 (June 2)Tatsushiro Koga took advantage of the Treaty of Shimonoseki and claimed that “we should ensure that the Islands (i。e。 the Diaoyu Islands) belongs to Japan。” His request of “renting” the island was finally approved。 (June 10)付録