Answer: A. China lost the Sino-Japanese War.
The Sino-Japanese War was a conflict between China and Japan, mainly over influence in Korea. The war showed the superiority of the Japanese forces due to the modernization that occurred during the Meiji Restoration. In comparison, China had failed to modernize at the same rate and was unable to defend itself from external threats. For the first time, regional dominance shifted from China to Japan. The humiliation is considered a catalyst for the Xinhai Revolution.