The Maritime Defence Plan and Joseon in the 19th century Qing dynasty: Focusing on the Qing Dynasty’s Vassal Policy & “the Gateway Perception”

In this article tried to interpret Qing Dynasty’s Vassal State & Frontier policy after Emperor Guang-xu ascended to the throne in the context of Maritime Defence Plan. In the 19th century, Qing Dynasty strengthened its influence on the Vassal states and the frontier lands to preserve the mainland. The cabinet members of the Qing Dynasty sought to preserve the mainland, Annam and other vassal countries, Taiwan and Tibet, considering the ever-changing international situation in East Asia, as well as the idea of Maritime Defence. In 19th-mid century, the core of Guang-xu’s Maritime Defence plan was to set Joseon, a vassal country, as “the gate of Eastern” and Taiwan as “the gate of Southern sea” to preserve the mainland of Qing. In the case of Taiwan, which is an inner land, its importance as a military hub was discussed in the Qing Dynasty, which immediately put Taiwan's development into practice. This was one of the key policies of the Maritime Defence of the Guang-xu reign. Antithetically, in the case of Joseon, the Qing Dynasty wanted to create conditions for Joseon to naturally be incorporated into the order of the balance[equilibrium] of power. while guiding trade and negotiations with Western countries. However, in the early 1880s, when a series of introversion broke out in Joseon, the Qing Dynasty abandoned its policy of promoting diplomacy and actively intervened. In addition, Joseon’s problems have changed not only in diplomatic relations but also in many areas such as naval shipbuilding, telecommunications, and boundaries. Also, as Russia came into contact with Joseon and Northeast region of the Qing Dynasty, There was a slow agitation over the Northeast Asia.