How did the sino-japanese and russo-japanese wars spring out of japans new strength as a modernized nation?

Answer 1

The 1894 Sino War was an opportunity for the Japanese to use (try out) their new army & navy against a real enemy. Test them out, correct any shortcomings, improve their equipment, etc.

The 1904 Russian War was the big test. Modern Russian battleships built under French designs against modern Japanese battleships built to British designs. This would also effect the European navies...what would be better...French designed battleships or British designed battleships? The Russo-Japanese War would prove which design was the best (it was the British designed battleships).

The British launched HMS Dreadnought immediately after the war (based on lessons learned from the Russian/Japanese War). Dreadnought started a whole new naval arms race world wide, which ultimately led to WWI in 1914.