by the end of the nineteenth century Japan had joined the Western powers in making gains at China's expense and was also competing strongly with Russia in Northeast Asia. Following its success in the Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1895, Japan acquired Taiwan. Japan also won a stunning victory in the Russo-Japanese war 1904-1905. Manchuria came predominantly under Japanese influence. Then, following a short period of Japanese "protection,'by 1910 Korea was a Japanese colony.