Russia (Siberia).
==1632.------ > Penetrating deep into eastern Siberia, the Russians establish Yakutsk - ~they soon hear reports of a grain-producing river valley to the south

Manchuria.Russia (Siberia).
==1643.Dec.-1645.spring > The first Cossack party penetrates southward into the Amur River basin, terrorizing the local residents 
==1649-1653 > Brutal Russian attempts to conquer and colonize the Amur region 
==1652-1658 > Chinese forces wipe out the Russian colonies on the Amur 
==1672 > The Russians renew their penetration of the Amur region 
==1686 > A powerful Chinese force destroys the Russian fort at Albazin 
==1689.Aug.27 > The Treaty of Nerchinsk: the Manchus force the Russians to withdraw north into Siberia, away from the Amur River 

Manchuria.Russia (Siberia).
==1843.------ > Middendorf explores the length of the Amur, and reports to St. Petersburg that the river is undefended 
==1850.summer > After explorations the previous year, Nevelskoy establishes a fort at Nikolayevsk and claims the mouth of the Amur for Russia 
==1854.May.13-summer > Nikolay Muravyev, Governor of Eastern Siberia, leads a military force down the Amur and repels British and French attacks on the river’s mouth to the summer of 1855, securing the area for Russia
==1858.May.16 > Muravyev compels the Chinese to sign the Treaty of Aigun: the Siberian-Manchurian border is set on the Amur

Manchuria.Russia (Siberia).Korea.
==1860.Nov.14 > The Treaty of Peking: the Chinese confirm the Amur as Manchuria’s border and cede the region east of the Usuri River - Russia expands to the border of Korea

Russia (Siberia).
==1860.------ > The city of Vladivostok is founded

Japan.
==1868.------ > The Meiji Restoration: the start of the rise of Japan

Korea.Japan.
==1875.Sep.20 > Koreans fire on the Japanese naval vessel Un’yo, in the first clash between the two countries in modern times - ~tough Japanese response 
==1876.Feb.26 > The Treaty of Kangwha: Japan coerces Korea into granting trading concessions - the Japanese penetration of Korea begins

Japan.
==1880.------ > The Black Ocean (Genyosha) Society is established to encourage Japanese expansion

Korea.China.
==1882.Jul-1886.summer > Bitter factional struggles in Korea, exacerbated by Japanese, Chinese, and Russian interference - China establishes dominance 

Russia (Siberia).
==1891.May.19 > Russia officially begins construction of the Trans-Siberian Railroad 

Korea.Japan.China.
==Jun.--- > China and Japan both intervene in response to revolts in Korea 
==Jul.23 > A Japanese coup ousts the pro-Chinese faction in Seoul
==Aug.1-1895.spring > The Sino-Japanese War: from Sep. to Feb. the Japanese win a series of easy victories over Chinese land and naval forces, but fail in their attempts to control the Korean Court
==Nov.21 > Japanese forces under Oyama storm Port Arthur

Korea.Japan.China.
==Apr.17 > The Treaty of Shimonoseki: among other concessions, China drops its claims to Korea, and cedes the Liaotung Peninsula to Japan

Korea.Japan.Europe.
==Apr.23 > The Triple Intervention: Russia, Germany and France ‘advise’ Japan to disgorge Liaotung - ~Japanese influence over Korea weakens 
==May.10 > The revised Treaty of Shimonoseki is ratified, without Japanese control of the Liaotung Peninsula - angry Japanese public reaction 

Korea.Japan.
==Oct.08 > Acting on his own authority, the Japanese Minister to Korea launches a coup in Seoul, and murders the Korean Queen

China.Russia.
==Dec.--- > The Russo-Chinese Bank is established

Korea.Japan.Russia.
==Feb.10 > The Korean King flees to the Russian legation; pro-Japanese ministers are executed - Russia dominates Korea to 1898

China.Manchuria.Russia.
==May.22 > A secret Chinese-Russian alliance is signed, granting Russia the right to build the Chinese Eastern Railroad through Manchuria

Korea.Russia.
==May.--- > Korea unsuccessfully asks to become a Russian protectorate

Korea.Japan.Russia.
==Jun.--- > Lobanov-Yamagata Convention: Russia and Japan attempt to organize joint dominance of Korea

Manchuria.Russia.
Russia seizes Port Arthur and the Liaotung Peninsula:
==Dec.03 > Germany seizes Kiao-Chow in Shantung - ~Russia immediately seeks  ‘compensation’ 
==Dec.14 > Russia announces to Germany that it intends to seize Port Arthur 
1898
==Mar.27 > China grants Russia a 25-year lease on the Liaotung Peninsula and a concession to build a South Manchurian Railroad  (or Mar.15)

Manchuria.Russia.
==1897 > The adventurer Bezobrazov acquires an interest in a immense timber concession on the Yalu, and begins influencing the Czar to adopt a bolder policy in Manchuria 

Korea.Russia.
==1897 > Russians are training Korean troops and directing Korean customs - the Russo-Korean Bank is established 

Korea.Japan.Russia.
Apr.13 > The Rosen-Nissi Convention: Russia yields its dominant position in Korea to Japan 

Manchuria.Russia.
==1898 > Russia begins work on the Chinese Eastern Railroad in northern Manchuria

China.Manchuria.Russia.
Apr.--- > Britain recognizes all of China north of the wall as being within the Russian sphere of influence

China.United States.
Sep.--- > US Secretary of State Hay announces the Open Door Policy, which helps to prevent an open partition of China

Manchuria.Russia.
The Boxer Rebellion and the seizure of Manchuria:
==spring-summer > The height of the anti-foreign Boxer Rebellion in China 
==Jul.09 > Russian forces enter Manchuria
==Jul.14 > Chinese troops and Boxer rebels attack Russian troops and rail facilities, provoking a brutal Russian response
==Sep-Dec > Russia occupies all of Manchuria

China.Manchuria.Russia.International.
==early.1901 > Russia begins to try to force China into yielding control of Manchuria - very strong opposition from Japan, Britain, and America

China.International.
==Sep.07 > The powers impose the punitive Boxer Protocol on China 

Russia (Siberia).
==Oct.21 > The Trans-Siberian Railroad is complete, except for the Lake Baikal gap 

Japan.Russia.
==1901 > The ultranationalist Black Dragon Society - with links to the Japanese government, military, and industrialists - is formed to prepare for a war with Russia 

Japan.Britain.
==Jan.30 > The Anglo-Japanese alliance

Manchuria.Russia.
==Apr.08 > Russia recognizes Chinese sovereignty over Manchuria and agrees to a phased troop withdrawal to be completed in eighteen months - ~the withdrawal stalls by late 1902

Russia (Naval).
==late.summer > Russia begins to reinforce its Far Eastern fleet

Japan (Naval).
==1902 > Japan’s naval expansion program is complete 

Manchuria.Russia.
==Feb.--- > In Manchuria, the Russians open the Chinese Eastern Railway to regular traffic

Japan.Russia.
==Apr.08 > Public protests in Japan over Russia’s failure to evacuate Manchuria 

Manchuria.Russia.
==May.15 > The Czar suddenly decides on an aggressive policy in Manchuria 

Japan.Russia.
==May.29 > A secret meeting of influential Japanese officers endorses a war with Russia

Korea.Russia.
==May.--- > Bezobrazov’s Yalu Timber Company begins operation, giving Russia a pretext to deploy troops on the Korean border 

Japan.Russia.
==Jun.23 > A Japanese Imperial Conference decides to take a hard line on Russia 
==Jul.28  > The Japanese government requests talks with Russia; on Aug.12, it presents a draft treaty - Russia fails to respond until Oct.

Manchuria.Russia.
==Aug.13 > The Czar abruptly appoints Alexeiev as Far Eastern Viceroy, with authority over Manchuria
==Sep.12 > Russia forms a Far Eastern Committee, chaired by the aggressive Bezobrazov 
==early.Oct > Russia reinforces its units in Manchuria 

Japan.Russia.
==Oct.03 > Russia makes an inadequate reply to Japan - desultory negotiations to Feb.1905 
==Oct.12 > Kodama is named Vice Chief of Staff - ~Japan begins planning for war

Manchuria.Russia.
==Oct.23 > War Minister Kuropatkin urgently recommends that Russia evacuate southern Manchuria - the Czar ignores him 

Japan (Naval).
==Oct.--- > Admiral Togo is appointed commander of the Standing Squadron 
==Dec.28 > The Japanese Standing Squadron is reorganized as the Combined Fleet 

Japan.Russia.France.
==Jan.06 > France offers to mediate the Russian-Japanese dispute 

Japan.Russia.
==Jan.06 > Russia offers to accept limited Japanese influence in Korea

Manchuria.Russia.
==Jan.06 > Viceroy Alexeiev asks the Czar for permission to mobilize Russian forces in Manchuria and to move troops to the Korean border at the Yalu River 

Japan.Russia.
==Jan.12 > A Japanese Imperial Conference decides to make a final offer to Russia 
==Jan.13 > The fourth and final Japanese appeal proposes that Russia concedes influence in Korea while Japan concedes influence in Manchuria, with Russia respecting Chinese territorial integrity in Manchuria - the appeal is regarded by Russia as an ultimatum

Manchuria.Russia.
==Jan.13 > Japanese intelligence reports that attack plans have already been transmitted to the Russian Far East forces 

Korea.Russia.
==Jan.14 > The Czar orders that Russian forces not interfere with Japanese troops in southern Korea until they cross the 38th parallel 

Japan (Naval).
==Jan.20 > The Japanese fleet is put on alert 

Korea.
==Jan.21 > Korea officially proclaims its neutrality 

Russia (Siberia).
==Jan.end > Ferries are unable to cross freezing Lake Baikal - Russian troops bound for Manchuria are compelled to march over the ice on the lake

Russia.
==Jan.31 > ~Interior Minister Plehve allegedly tells General Kuropatkin that Russia needs “a small, victorious war” to ward off revolution… but the statement is probably apocryphal