Why is the bear on the side of Russia on the map of the current situation?

The bear in the chart represents Czarist Russia, which has the meaning of a rampage, occupying the three eastern provinces.

The dog represents Britain, with the idea of holding the line, occupying the Yangtze River.

The frog represents France, with the meaning of taking over at will, occupying Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan.

The eagle represents the United States, meaning to fly in and share the food.

The sun represents Japan, occupying Fujian.

The intestine represents Germany, with the meaning of insatiable greed, occupying Shandong.

Expanded Information

The "Map of the Current Situation" is a masterpiece of modern Chinese cartooning on current affairs. It shows the serious crisis faced by China at the end of the 19th century (after the Sino-Japanese War), which was divided and dissected by the imperialist powers, in a timely, profound and graphic manner, and serves as a warning bell.

The picture of the bear on behalf of Russia, the dog on behalf of the United Kingdom, the toad on behalf of France, the eagle (i.e., the eagle) on behalf of the United States, the sun on behalf of Japan, the sausage on behalf of Germany. It vividly reflects the historical reality that the feudal empire has been reduced to a semi-feudal and semi-colonial country.

Background of Creation

In 1900, the Russian Empire took advantage of the Eight-Power Allied Forces' war of aggression against China to invade the entire northeastern part of China. China and Russia signed the Sino-Russian Treaty of Settlement of the Eastern Provinces in Beijing on April 8, 1902, which stipulated that Russia would withdraw its troops from China's Eastern Provinces in three phases, each of which would last six months and be completed within 18 months.

April 8, 1903, for the second phase of the deadline for the withdrawal of Russian troops, Russia not only refused to withdraw a soldier, but to the Qing government put forward seven unreasonable demands, in fact, to monopolize the three northeastern provinces, arousing the strong resistance of the Chinese people.

References:

Baidu Encyclopedia - Map of the Current Situation