Boxer Rebellion in China 1900-1901

Chinese conservatives seized power after the Hundred Days Reform and they gave clandestine backing to the antiforeigner and anti-Christian movement known as Yihetuan (Society of Righteousness and Harmony); the movement is better known abroad as the Boxers (from an earlier name – Yihequan – Righteous, Harmonious Fists). In 1900 Boxer bands spread over the north China countryside, burning missionary facilities and killing Chinese Christians. When confronted about the situation, the government claimed an inability to control the Boxers but, in fact, it was inciting and supporting them. In response to the threat posed by the Boxers, the Eight Nation Alliance (Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia, UK and USA) began organizing military reinforcements to protect their legations in June.

On June 17, 1900, fighting began at Tientsin (Tianjin), where the allies intended to secure a base of operations. An allied naval squadron shelled the Taku (Dagu) forts, after Chinese forces resisted the allied intention to land troops, and a multinational landing force of marines seized the forts; the city was stormed mid-July. In response to the fighting at Tientsin, on June 20, 1900, a large force of Boxers besieged the foreign concessions in Peking (Beijing). With Tientsin secured, the allied relief force began a fighting advance toward Peking. Boxers unsuccessfully blocked the allies at Peitsang on August 5th and Yangtsun on August 6th. Allied forces reached Peking on August 13th. The Imperial city was stormed on August 15th; the Boxers and the conservative government fled Peking and the allies occupied the city on August 28th. Punitive expeditions were conducted against the Boxers still active in the Peking region between September and May 1901.

Meanwhile, Boxers had also attacked Russian interests in Manchuria, particularly the railroad, with the same vehemence and violence they directed against foreigners in Peking. In addition to its participation in the Eight Nation Alliance, Russia began an independent campaign against the Boxers in Manchuria on July 3, 1900. The Russian army easily pushed aside the disorganized defenses offered by the Chinese and occupied Mukden and most of Manchuria by the time fighting ceased on October 14, 1900.^[1]

Hostilities ended when the so-called Boxer Protocol was signed on September 12, 1901. Under the Protocol, the Chinese court consented to the execution of ten high officials and the punishment of hundreds of others, expansion of the Legation Quarter in Peking, payment of war reparations, stationing of foreign troops in China, and razing of some Chinese fortifications. The humiliating defeat and peace did result in renewed Chinese efforts at political reform and military modernization. Russian occupation of Manchuria as a result of the Boxer Rebellion was a source of friction with Japan.

Notes

[1] There is no consensus on whether to consider events in Manchuria as a Boxer Rebellion campaign or a separate Sino-Russian war. Clodfelter and Correlates of War choose the latter. However, by doing so, and perhaps the most compelling reason to not do so, China and Russia are, for a period of time, at war and at war which has no well-defined meaning. Battles deaths for Russia and China in the Manchurian campaign are included in the totals listed.

References

Clodfelter, 643-4; COW82, 83; China - A Country Study; Dupuy and Dupuy, 1103-5; Kohn, 67.

Category

Inter-State War

Region

East Asia

Belligerents

China (Chinese Boxers), Austria-Hungary, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Russia, UK, USA

Dispute

Governance

Initiation Date

June 17, 1900

Termination Date

September 12, 1901

Duration

1 year, 2 months, 27 days
(453 days)

Outcome

Imposed Settlement
(Allied victory)

Fatalities

Total: 7,003
China: 5758
France: 24
Japan: 622
Russia: 544
UK: 34
USA: 21

Magnitude

3.8