Twenty-one Demands

Twenty-one Demands (1915), instrument by which Japan secured temporary hegemony over China. Japan used its declaration of war against Germany (Aug., 1914) as grounds for invading Kiaochow, the German leasehold in Shandong prov., China. Disregarding the Chinese request to withdraw, Japan secretly presented (1915) President Yüan Shih-kai with an ultimatum comprising 21 demands divided into five sections. These provided that Japan assume Germany's position in Kiaochow; that Manchuria and Mongolia be reserved to Japan for exploitation and colonization; that Japan control the main coal deposits of China; that the other powers be excluded from further territorial concessions; and that Japan guide China's military, commercial, and financial affairs. The demands for control of Chinese policy were dropped, partly at the insistence of the United States. The remainder of the demands were accepted by President Yüan after the Japanese threatened to extend their invasion. Treaties were signed (May 25) extending Japan's lease of the Liaotung peninsula (see Liaoning ) and of the Manchurian railroads and granting Kiaochow to Japan. The demands, setting a pattern for Japanese domination, were forced on China, but the treaties were not ratified by the Chinese legislature. The Japanese reinforced their claims in 1917 and forced a second agreement from the Chinese in 1918. At the Versailles Conference, Japan, by reason of secret treaties signed in 1917, was awarded the German possessions in Shandong over strong Chinese protest. China refused to sign the Versailles treaty, and this event led directly to the May Fourth Movement of 1919. At the Washington Conference (1921-22), Japan agreed to withdraw its troops from Shandong and restore full sovereignty to China.

Twenty-One Demands The Japanese attempt to impose domination on China in January 1915. Taking advantage of its favourable international position after entering World War I on the Allied side and capturing the German base of Qingdao on the Chinese mainland, Japan attempted to impose virtual protectorate status on China, which was diplomatically isolated and torn by civil war. Although one group of demands dealing with the appointment of Japanese advisers throughout the Chinese government was not enforced, threat of war left China no choice but to concede the others, including extension of Japanese leases in Manchuria, takeover of former German concessions in Jiaozhou, substantial interests in Chinese mining concerns, and an embargo on future coastal territorial concessions to any other foreign power. The Twenty-One Demands greatly extended Japanese power in China, but provoked serious resentment within China and aroused US fears of Japanese expansionism.

Twenty-One Demands (Jan. 1915) A Japanese ultimatum to China, announced after Japan entered World War I on the Allied side and occupied the German base of Qingdao. Delivered at a time when the other foreign powers were preoccupied with the war in Europe, the demands would have imposed virtual protectorate status on China. The most strident ones, which included the imposition of Japanese advisers throughout Chinese government, were later retracted. The threat of military force left the Chinese President, Yuan Shikai, little choice but to concede the remaining articles. These included the extension of Japanese leases and rights in Manchuria, the takeover of the German concessions in Shandong, an increase of Japanese interests in Chinese mining concerns, and an embargo on future territorial concessions to any other power. The demands, once accepted, allowed the Japanese to consolidate their power in China, although this episode also had the effect of provoking deep resentment against the Japanese within the country and among Japan's allies.