On this day 123 years ago, on January 30, 1902 (December 21, 1901), Japan became an ally of Great Britain in the Pacific region. On January 30, 1902, Japan and Great Britain concluded a defensive alliance. The two countries agreed to respect each other's interests in China and Korea, and agreed to consult each other before entering into a treaty with a third country. Japan and Great Britain shared similarities in their trade plans and imperialist policies in the Far East, and the new treaty between the two countries seemed to serve their common interests. After the war against China between 1894 and 1895, Japan realized a stark truth: it needed a European ally. Russia, France, and Germany compelled Japan to return the Nanman region it had captured in that war to China. After the Boxer Rebellion, the Russians occupied South Manchuria and approached Korea. Japan clearly felt more threatened. Britain had been expanding its interests in China since the Opium War of 1839-1842. Now, Britain felt threatened by the development of Russia, Germany, and France. London also felt safer with a new ally in the Far East. On February 12, the treaty was announced, establishing the first Anglo-Japanese alliance.