The situation in the Far East 1902 vs. 2022

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Early in 1902, the Chinese government began to enumerate the Empire’s population for taxation purposes. The population of the eighteen provinces of China proper was 407,734,330.

Even back then, China was the most populous country. The British Empire had almost a similar population. The third most populous country was the Russian Empire. Despite its high population and potential ability to assemble a large army, China was the object of the claims of the great powers of the time.

The map of the Far East of Eurasia below was created by Tse Tsan-Tai (1872-1939), an Australian Chinese revolutionary active during the late Qing Dynasty. He depicted the western powers encroaching on China at the end of the nineteenth century in symbolic form. The bear representing Russia is intruding from the north. The bulldog head with a lion’s body symbolizing the British Empire is in south China, with its tail around the Shantung peninsula. The Gallic frog is in southeast Asia, with an inscription “Fashoda,” regarding Fashoda Incident opposing Britain and France in Africa. The frog has the Hainan Island in its right hand, about Guangzhouwan, and part of the Sichuan in its left hand. The bald eagle representing the United States of America is approaching the Philippines (the United States had already invaded the Philippines at this time). On the eagle is written, “Blood is thicker than water,” a reference to American Navy Commodore Josiah Tattnall’s saying in 1859. The symbolic Sun behind Japan extends its rays across Korea onto China while Japan fishes for Taiwan. Qing Amban is in Tibet and a Chinese teacher in Mongolia and Xinjiang with a Turco-Mongol man. Some other European nations, following Prussia, are waiting to invade China at the bottom of the map.

Below is a modern version of this map, created by a Hong Kong illustrator nicknamed “Ah To.” It reflects the current political situation in the region.

According to the map, Taiwan is under immediate threat from China, then no one in the region is safe.

Taiwan (bear) is even being carried through Thailand by Myanmar (lizard) and China (panda).

自衛隊-Japan Self-Defense Forces present the fact that Japan is very anxious about the continuous eroding from China in this region.

The United States eagle seems to be grabbing Japan and Taiwan with its wings and the Philippines with its paws, which could represent American protection against China.

What did you see on this map?