Treaty of Maguan
The Treaty of Maguan (also as “Treaty of Shimonoseki”, T.Chinese: 馬關條約, S.Chinese:马关条约; Japanese:下関条約) was signed on April 17, 1895 between China and Japan.
The Treaty ended the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) in favour of Japan. In the treaty China recognized the independence of Korea and renounced any claims, ceded the southern portion of Fengtien (current Shenyang, Liaoning) province, the islands of Taiwan ( Formosa ) and the Pescadores Islands to Japan. China also paid Japan a war indemnity of 200 million Kuping taels, and opened various ports and rivers to international entry and trade.
The treaty was signed by Count Ito Hirobumi (伊藤博文) and Viscount Mutsu Munemitsu (陸奧宗光)for the Emperor of Japan and Li Hung-Chang (李鴻章) and Li Ching-Fong (李經芳) on behalf of the Emperor of China.
The harsh conditions imposed on China led to the Triple Intervention of Russia, France, and Germany. They demanded that Japan withdrew its claim on Fengtien province of China, concerned that Port Arthur would fall under Japanese control. In November 1895 Japan withdrew its claim on Fengtien province in return for an increased war indemnity from China. The European powers were not concerned with any of the other conditions, or the 'free hand' Japan had been granted in Korea. Port Arthur was later granted to Russia as a concession in 1898.