Nagasaki Incident: Chinese troops riot during shore leave

Background. The Beiyang Fleet, a dominant navy in Asia, entered Nagasaki harbor on August 1, 1886, as part of a visit to major Asian ports. The fleet consisted of four warships: Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Jiyuan, and Weiyuan. This visit occurred during the twelfth year of Emperor Guangxu's reign.

The Riot. On August 13, approximately 500 Chinese troops went on shore leave. Many visited the red-light district, where they violated military discipline by drinking and causing disturbances. These actions led to altercations with locals and clashes with the Japanese police.

Diplomatic Resolution. Following the incident, the Qing navy prohibited soldiers from going ashore in groups for one day and agreed to officer supervision. In February 1887, an agreement was reached under British and German mediation. The Qing government successfully demanded that Japanese police not prohibit sword-wielding by Qing troops and secured reparations.

Historical Impact. The incident, combined with the Kapsin Coup of 1884, stirred anti-Qing sentiment in Japan. It is regarded as a distant cause of the First Sino-Japanese War, highlighting tensions between the Qing Dynasty and Meiji Japan.