Chientao District

Chientao District was an area in the southeast of Fengtien (Liaoning) and Kirin (Jilin) province in Manchuria (northeast China) along the Choseon (Korean) border, in which lived large numbers of Koreans. Japan claimed the right of extraterritoriality in the region as part of its South Manchuria Railway Zone.

The Sino-Japanese agreement relating to the Chientao region, signed on September 4th, 1909, recognized the Chientao district as part of the boundary between China and Korea. In this area, Korean subjects were permitted to reside and work agricultural lands. Limits placed on Koreans were that they had to submit to the laws of China. The Koreans also enjoyed free and unrestricted movement across the Sino-Korean border (except when carrying firearms).

Contradictions:

The annexation of Korea by Japan on August 21, 1910, made the Koreans actually Japanese nationals and, hence, would have altered the status of all Korean subjects who were residing in Manchuria at the time, entitling them, in the absence of other Sino-Japanese agreements to the contrary, to the protection and riights of extraterritoriality and consular jurisdiction. However, the Chientao agreement was recognized by both Japan and China as still operative, and the Chinese judicial authorities in Chientao continued to exercise jurisdiction over Koreans residing in that territory as theretofore until the conclusion of the treaty relating to South Manchuria and Inner Mongolia of May, 25, 1915.

See also

• Pacification of Manchukuo

Sources

• IMTFE Judgement
• Notes On A Guerrilla Campaign
• Pacification of Manchukuo 1932-1941