TheTientsin Convention (天津条約,Tenshin Jōyaku), also known as theTianjin Convention,^[1] was an agreement signed by theQing Empire of China and theEmpire of Japan inTientsin, China on 18 April 1885. It was also called the "Li-Itō Convention".

Following theGapsin Coup inJoseon in 1884, tensions had been escalating between China and Japan over external influence over theJoseon dynasty of Korea and its royal family. During this coup, the Japanese supported a coup attempt aimed at reforming and modernizing Joseon. The coup plotters sought to eliminate legal enforced social distinctions, eliminating the privileges of theyangban class. The coup failed when China dispatched 1500 soldiers underYuan Shikai. The Japanese and the coup plotters fled to Japan.

The driving out of the Japanese soldiers by Chinese troops greatly increased tension between the two powers. Following extensive negotiations,Itō Hirobumi of Japan andLi Hongzhang of China attempted to defuse tensions by signing an agreement whereby:

1. Both nations would pull their expeditionary forces out of Joseon within four months.
2. Gojong of Joseon would be advised to hire military instructors from a third nation for the training of the Joseon army.
3. Neither nation would send troops to Joseon without prior notification to the other.

The Convention effectively eliminated China's claim to exclusive influence over theJoseon dynasty of Korea, and made Joseon a co-protectorate of both China and Japan.^[2] Despite negotiations, the convention was no deterrent to either party, and the next serious confrontation over Joseon quickly escalated into theFirst Sino-Japanese War. The immediate result was a rise in Chinese influence over Joseon, which appointed Yuan Shikai as a Resident, a director of Joseon affairs (1885–1894).

• Beasley, W.G. (2000).The Rise of Modern Japan, 3rd Edition: Political, Economic, and Social Change since 1850. Palgrave Macmillan.ISBN 0-312-23373-6.
• Hsu, Immanuel C.Y. (1999).The Rise of Modern China. Oxford University Press.ISBN 0-19-512504-5.

• China–Japan treaties
• Japan–Korea relations
• 1885 in Japan
• 1885 in Korea
• 1885 treaties
• Treaties of the Qing dynasty
• Treaties of the Empire of Japan

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