How did Russia gain railway and leasehold rights in Manchuria in 1898?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In March 1898, Russia secured control over the Liaodong Peninsula and expanded its railway rights in Manchuria through a policy of coercion. Having previously forced Japan to return the peninsula to China following the Sino-Japanese War, Russia occupied the ports of Port Arthur (Lüshun) and Dairen (Dalian) and compelled the Chinese government to grant them a leasehold over these areas.123

As part of this agreement, Russia obtained the right to construct the South Manchurian Railway, a branch line designed to connect these southern ports to the Chinese Eastern Railway at the junction of Harbin. These actions were part of a broader period of imperialist encroachment in China, where various foreign powers vied for spheres of influence, placing the Qing dynasty on the brink of partition.432