Changes

'''Weihaiwei''' was a territory in [[Shandong]] province, eastern [[China]], which was held by the [[United Kingdom]] as a leased territory between 1898 and 1930. The area occupied included the walled city of Weihaiwei, the offshore island of Liukungtao, and and a cordon of surrounding territory several miles broad. In total, the territory occupied 288 square miles, although Chinese self-government was recognised within the walled city of Weihaiwei.

'''Weihaiwei''' was a territory in [[Shandong]] province, eastern [[China]], which was held by the [[United Kingdom]] as a leased territory between 1898 and 1930. The area occupied included the walled city of Weihaiwei, the offshore island of Liukungtao, and and a cordon of surrounding territory several miles broad. In total, the territory occupied 288 square miles, although Chinese self-government was recognised within the walled city of Weihaiwei.

The harbour at Weihaiwei had been developed as a naval base by the infant Chinese navy in the 1890s, with naval facilities on Liukungtao Island. It was the scene of a naval battle during the first [[Sino-Japanese War]] of 1894-95 and was occupied by Japanese forces, who continued to occupy the area following the conclusion of peace pending the payment of a large indemnity by China. The Japanese evacuated Weihaiwei in 1898 and the territory was promptly occupied by the British. This took place by pre-arrangement with the Chinese court, who sought British occupation as a counter to counter the recent Russian occupation of [[Port Arthur]], a few score miles to the north across the Bay of Pechihli. The territory was leased to Britain for so long as the Russians might occupy Port Arthur; however, when Port Arthur fell to the Japanese during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904-05, no moves were made to evacuate the port. Indeed, only in 1921, at the [[Washington Conference]], did Britain agree to start negotiations with China on Weihaiwei. These were protracted, as a result of both British procrastination and unrealistic demands, and of the chronic political instability of China in the 1920s: one potential deal collapsed at the last moment following the coup d'etat of the warlord [[Feng Yuxiang]] in [[Beijing]] in October 1924; and the control of Shandong by a local warlord of villanous reputation also delayed matters. Eventually, following the conquest of north China by the [[Guomindang]] in 1928, an agreement was reached, and Weihaiwei was evacuated by the British on 1 October 1930, although the naval base continued to be used for several years as a summer station, by agreement with the Chinese authorities.  

The harbour at Weihaiwei had been developed as a naval base by the infant Chinese navy in the 1890s, with naval facilities on Liukungtao Island. It was the scene of a naval battle during the first [[Sino-Japanese War]] of 1894-95 and was occupied by Japanese forces, who continued to occupy the area following the conclusion of peace pending the payment of a large indemnity by China. The Japanese evacuated Weihaiwei in 1898 and the territory was promptly occupied by the British. This took place by pre-arrangement with the Chinese court, who sought British occupation as a counter to counter the recent Russian occupation of [[Port Arthur]], a few score miles to the north across the Bay of Pechihli. The territory was leased to Britain for so long as the Russians might occupy Port Arthur; however, when Port Arthur fell to the Japanese during the [[Russo-Japanese War]] of 1904-05, no moves were made to evacuate the port. Indeed, only in 1921, at the [[Washington Conference]], did Britain agree to start negotiations with China on Weihaiwei. These were protracted, as a result of both British procrastination and unrealistic demands, and of the chronic political instability of China in the 1920s: one potential deal collapsed at the last moment following the coup d'etat of the warlord [[Feng Yuxiang]] in [[Beijing]] in October 1924; and the control of Shandong by a local warlord of villanous reputation also delayed matters. Eventually, following the conquest of north China by the [[Guomindang]] in 1928, an agreement was reached, and Weihaiwei was evacuated by the British on 1 October 1930, although the naval base continued to be used for several years as a summer station, by agreement with the Chinese authorities.

 

Weihaiwei is now known as Weihai.  

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:China]]