Final answer:
Japan emerged as the dominant power in East Asia in the late 1800s, defeating China in wars and gaining control over territories.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the late 1800s, Japan emerged as the dominant power in East Asia. Despite China having a larger military force, Japan's modern navy was able to defeat China in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, gaining control over Taiwan, the Liaodong Peninsula, and the Penghu Islands. Japan's victory over Russia in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-5 further solidified its dominance in East Asia.