RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE BOXER REBELLION IN CHINA

Lebedev Vladislav Pavlovich

This study focuses on the analysis of the Yihetuan Rebellion (also known as the Boxer Rebellion) as a significant manifestation of anti-foreign resistance in China at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The relevance of the topic lies in the need to reconsider the role of the Russian Empire in these events, which in both Russian and Western historiography is predominantly portrayed through the actions of Western powers. The article examines the preconditions for the uprising, including social unrest, anti-foreign sentiment, and the inaction of the Qing dynasty’s government. Special attention is paid to the analysis of Russia's foreign policy measures, which, according to the author, played a dual role—on the one hand, contributing to rising tensions in the region, and on the other, ensuring Russia's active participation in suppressing the uprising as part of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Based on the study of diplomatic documents, memoirs of contemporaries, and scholarly works, the conclusion is drawn that Russia’s involvement in the rebellion was part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position in Manchuria and reflected its ambition to expand influence in East Asia.

Keywords:China, Far East, Manchuria, Yihetuan Rebellion, Boxer Rebellion, Russian Empire, foreign policy