Washington Naval Treaty

Washington Naval Treaty, 1923

Excerpt:

Article XIX

The United States, the British Empire and Japan agree that the status quo at the time of the signing of the present Treaty, with regard to fortifications and naval bases, shall be maintained in their respective territories and possessions specified hereunder:

. . . . .

. . . . .

(3) The following insular territories and possessions of Japan in the Pacific Ocean, to wit: the Kurile Islands, the Bonin Islands, Amami-Oshima, the Loochoo Islands, Formosa and the Pescadores, and any insular territories or possessions in the Pacific Ocean which Japan may hereafter acquire.

The maintenance of the status quo under the foregoing provisions implies that no new fortifications or naval bases shall be established in the territories and possessions specified; that no measures shall be taken to increase the existing naval facilities for the repair and maintenance of naval forces, and that no increase shall be made in the coast defences of the territories and possessions above specified. This restriction, however, does not preclude such repair and replacement of worn-out weapons and equipment as is customary in naval and military establishments in time of peace.

Commentary

The 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki stipulated a cession (or "transfer") of the territorial sovereignty of Formosa and the Pescadores (aka "Taiwan") to Japan in perpetuity. This could not be interpreted to be a mere military occupation. Upon this cession, Taiwan became a part of Japan’s national territory.

In contemporary reports Taiwan was referred to as a colony, and in the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty as an insular territory and possession of Japan.

Japan’s sovereignty over Taiwan only ended with the coming into force of the SFPT in 1952, some fifty-seven years after the 1895 cession.

1923
Washington Naval Treaty
(full text)

[English version] https://www.twdefense.info/trust3/treaty-washington.html
[Chinese version] https://www.twdefense.info/trust3/treaty-washingtonch.html