Lushun

Just 40 km south of this city, which was developed by the Russians and Japanese in the early 20th century, is the great fortress and naval base of Port Arthur today Lushun, epicenter of the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War.

Eric Margolis: Will China Rule the Waves Eric Margolis 2011

Just 40 km south of this city, which was developed by the Russians and Japanese in the early 20th century, is the great fortress and naval base of Port Arthur today Lushun, epicenter of the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War.

Eric Margolis: Will China Rule the Waves Eric Margolis 2011

Dmitry Astakhov/AFP/Getty Images Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at a memorial to Soviet soldiers who died during the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-05 and World War II at the Russian Military Cemetery in the area of Lushun on Sunday.

Russian President Visits China 2010

The northern end of the Yellow Sea is one of China's most sensitive, strategic areas, giving access to southern Manchuria, Shandong Province, the port of Lushun formerly Port Arthur, with its nuclear submarine base, and the maritime approaches to the Tianjin-Beijing region.

Eric Margolis: Behind the Korean Crisis, Dangers of a US-China Clash Eric Margolis 2010

The northern end of the Yellow Sea is one of China's most sensitive, strategic areas, giving access to southern Manchuria, Shandong Province, the port of Lushun formerly Port Arthur, with its nuclear submarine base, and the maritime approaches to the Tianjin-Beijing region.

Eric Margolis: Behind the Korean Crisis, Dangers of a US-China Clash Eric Margolis 2010

The northern end of the Yellow Sea is one of China's most sensitive, strategic areas, giving access to southern Manchuria, Shandong Province, the port of Lushun formerly Port Arthur, with its nuclear submarine base, and the maritime approaches to the Tianjin-Beijing region.

Eric Margolis: Behind the Korean Crisis, Dangers of a US-China Clash Eric Margolis 2010

The northern end of the Yellow Sea is one of China's most sensitive, strategic areas, giving access to southern Manchuria, Shandong Province, the port of Lushun formerly Port Arthur, with its nuclear submarine base, and the maritime approaches to the Tianjin-Beijing region.

Eric Margolis: Behind the Korean Crisis, Dangers of a US-China Clash Eric Margolis 2010

The northern end of the Yellow Sea is one of China's most sensitive, strategic areas, giving access to southern Manchuria, Shandong Province, the port of Lushun formerly Port Arthur, with its nuclear submarine base, and the maritime approaches to the Tianjin-Beijing region.

Eric Margolis: Behind the Korean Crisis, Dangers of a US-China Clash Eric Margolis 2010

Note the antenna of the Octopus going through Manchuria into Lushun near Dalian today.

Picture maps: Ireland, France and Italy, and Corea Sun Bin 2008

Russia evaded discussions and pressed China for a lease of Dalian and Lushun, raising Anglo-Russian tensions.

1898, Jan. 25 2001