At the time, why did people think that China would easily win the First Sino-Japanese War? Was this assumption correct, and why or why not?(1 point)

Question

Responses

People thought China would win the war because it had the support of Western imperialist powers. This assumption was incorrect because it turned out that Japan had their support also.
People thought China would win the war because it had the support of Western imperialist powers. This assumption was incorrect because it turned out that Japan had their support also.

People thought China would win the war because it had less land to defend. This assumption was incorrect because Japan’s technology was more advanced, which helped it win the war.
People thought China would win the war because it had less land to defend. This assumption was incorrect because Japan’s technology was more advanced, which helped it win the war.

People thought China would win the war because Japan had a bigger military. This assumption was incor

Answer 1

rect because Japan's military, although smaller, was better trained and more modern, leading to its success in the conflict.

In the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), many observers believed China would have the advantage due to its larger population and territorial size, as well as the perception that it had the backing of Western powers. However, this assumption proved incorrect for several reasons:

1. Military Modernization: Japan had undergone significant military modernization during the Meiji Restoration, adopting Western military techniques and technologies, which made its forces more effective in battle.

2. Naval Power: Japan's navy was more modern and equipped, allowing it to defeat the Qing Dynasty’s navy decisively, particularly in battles such as the Battle of the Yellow Sea.

3. Leadership and Strategy: Japanese military leadership was often more strategic and cohesive than the Qing Chinese forces, which struggled with internal issues and outdated tactics.

Ultimately, Japan won the war, emerging as a new imperial power, while China's defeat exposed its weaknesses and contributed to calls for reform and modernization within the Qing Empire.