The first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 was fought between the decaying China of the Qing Dynasty and a dynamic and modernising Japan under the Meiji Dynasty. It was a one-sided clash which ended with a huge loss of prestige for the Qing - the dynasty was overthrown fifteen years later; - and the loss of Korea - which broke away from China to become an independent state. China was also forced to cede the island of Taiwan, the Liaodong peninsular and Penghu to Japan. This publication, compiled by the Intelligence Department of the British war Office, summarises the war.