The Great Game in Eurasia and Tientsin Agreements of 1886

유라시아의 그레이트 게임과 1886년의 텐진협정 - 글로벌 히스토리에서 접근 -

In this paper, I was to reconsider the International Relations of Northeast Asia in 1880’s by setting it in the context of the Great Game and the Anglo-russian Rivalry in East Asia included Korean peninsula. Especially I was focused on the Tientsin agreement of 1886 in conjunction with the Great Game in Eurasia and the Port Hamilton Incident in Korea peninsula. The reason why is that Tientsin agreement had decisive influence on the internal and external politics of korean court as well as the Balance of Power and International Order in Northeast Asia including korean peninsular before the Sino-Japanese War. Aftermath the port Hamilton Incident, Korean court has changed its foreign policy toward Russia. Before the Komundo Incident, Korea had taken a Russophobia. But Hereafter, Korean Court has decided to go its own route. It’s way was to be established a friendly diplomatic relationships between Russia and korea. Such a turning point was the Tientsin agreement of 1886 between China and Russia. In view of global historical perspective, Its Impact has been broken out the traditional diplomatic relationship with China. After a moment, korea had a free hand. Tiantsin agreement was the very midst of a diplomatic settlement which was made in Korea between Russia and China. Therefore Korean Affairs in 1880’s was already beyond local issues, and has been switched world historical affairs under the influence of the Great Game between Great Britain and Russia Empire. These developments of Korean peninsula was to be an good object to study east asia’s international relations in the early 1880’s. And It is noteworthy that became the cornerstone of the East Asian policy of Russia and China until the Sino-Japanese War. After the port Hamilton Incident and Tiantsin Talks, Russia recognized clearly that British occupation of the port Hamilton as the extended action of the Great Game. In this regard, Policy makers in Russia clarify korean affairs as one aspect of Pacific Ocean and East Asian strategy. In other words, Looking at the level of Great Game of Eurasia, The status quo of Korean peninsular would be important. One of China and Japan, when it would monopolize Korea, it will be threatened and restraint immediately the defense of Russia in the Far East. So they will be unable to establish policies that provoke Britain, China and Japan before the Sino-Japanese War. On the contrary, Due to Russo-chinese collaboration, Japan had lost the diplomatic leadership on the Korean Peninsular. Therefore, Japan had to take an aggressive alternative measures for survival.