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The Russo-Japanese War, fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan from 1904 to 1905, was the first major conflict of the 20th century that revealed the rapid changes in military technology and tactics. The roots of the war lay in the competing imperial ambitions of the two nations in East Asia, specifically over control of Korea and Manchuria.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Russia and Japan were expanding their influence in the region. Russia, driven by its desire to secure a warm-water port and expand its empire in the Far East, had been pushing southward into Manchuria and Korea. At the same time, Japan, a rising power in Asia, sought to maintain its dominance over Korea and expand its influence in Manchuria. These territorial ambitions created tensions between the two powers, which escalated after the Russo-Japanese negotiations failed in 1903. Japan, having already experienced rapid modernization and military growth, viewed Russia's increasing presence in the region as a threat to its own interests.

A significant contributing factor to the war was the strategic importance of Korea. Japan had long considered Korea its sphere of influence, and in the late 19th century, it had fought the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895), which resulted in Japan gaining control over Taiwan and establishing its dominance in Korea. Russia, on the other hand, viewed Korea as part of its broader imperial aspirations and sought to secure a foothold in the Korean Peninsula. With both countries vying for control of Korea and Manchuria, their competition became a powder keg waiting to explode.