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(2) The Establishment of the Puppet State of Manchukuo

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To use Chinese to subdue Chinese, Japan decided to form a puppet regime after occupying China’s three north-eastern provinces. In March 1932, Puyi (溥儀), the last emperor of the Qing dynasty (清朝), secretly sneaked into Northeast China from Tianjin (天津) according to Japan’s plot. On 1 March, the Proclamation of Manchukuo’s Establishment (《建國宣言》) was issued and Manchukuo (1 March 1932 to 18 August 1945) was established under the support of Japan. As Manchukuo was not acknowledged by China nor the international community, it was called “pseudo-Manchukuo”, or the “puppet state of Manchukuo”.

With the capital set in Hsinking (now Changchun﹝長春﹞, Jilin Province﹝吉林﹞), Manchukuo administered the entire territory of the three north-eastern provinces except Lushun (旅順) and Dalian (大連) (collectively known as “Kwantung Province” under Japanese administration). Rehe Province (熱河), which was occupied by Japan in 1933, was also merged into the puppet state of Manchukuo. In its early days, Manchukuo adopted the republican system and Puyi was installed as chief executive of the Republic of Manchukuo (reign title Datong﹝大同﹞) on 9 March. On 1 March 1934, Manchukuo became the Empire of Manchuria, with Puyi as the emperor adopting the reign title Kangde (康德). The General Affairs State Council was established under Puyi, with Zheng Xiaoxu (鄭孝胥), Zhang Jinghui (張景惠) and others serving as prime ministers successively.

In October 1932, the League of Nations published the Lytton Report, which stated that Manchukuo was directed and organised by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and not a movement of national self-determination. After Japan’s defeat in August 1945, Manchukuo’s members, including Puyi, were captured by Soviet forces and handed over to the newly established government of the People’s Republic of China in 1950.

Why did Japan support the abdicated Qing emperor Puyi? How many times was Puyi crowned emperor?

See answer below.

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Under Japan’s planning, Puyi (sitting in the centre) was installed as Chief Executive of the puppet state of Manchukuo adopting the reign title Datong on 9 March 1932, with Hsinking as the capital.

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   On 15 September 1932, the Japan-Manchukuo Protocol (《日滿議定書》) was signed, which confirmed Japan’s formal recognition of Manchukuo.

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After the September 18 Incident, the League of Nations sent a commission to investigate the conflict between China and Japan. The photo shows the commission visiting Puyi (sitting in the centre) on 3 May 1932. An investigation report published in October 1932 stated that Manchukuo was directed and organised by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and not a movement of national self-determination. Therefore, Manchukuo was not recognised by China nor the international community.

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On 1 March 1934, Puyi (sixth from the left in the front row) was officially crowned emperor. Manchukuo was changed to the Empire of Manchuria and the reign title to Kangde.

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Left: the official portrait of Puyi as the Emperor of the Empire of Manchuria. Right: the Palace of the puppet state of Manchukuo.

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The General Affairs State Council was established under the puppet state of Manchukuo and managed by the prime minister. Zheng Xiaoxu (left) and Zhang Jinghui (right) took the post successively.

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Left: Puyi in his office during the pseudo-Manchukuo period. Right: Puyi (right) shaking hands with Emperor Hirohito who came to greet him on his first visit to Tokyo, Japan, on 6 April 1935.

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  Datong Square in Hsinking, the capital of the puppet state of Manchukuo, in 1936. The square is the namesake of Manchukuo’s first reign title.

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An imperial edict by the Emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo, with the national flag and emblem of the state.

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In August 1945, the Soviet Union sent troops to Northeast China, leading to the rapid defeat of Japan’s Kwantung Army and the collapse of the puppet state of Manchukuo. Left: on 19 August 1945, Puyi was captured by Soviet forces at Shenyang (瀋陽) Airport and taken to the Soviet Union. Right: in August 1946, Puyi testified under oath at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo for the trial of Japanese war criminals. In 1950, Puyi was handed over by the Soviet Union to the newly established government of the People’s Republic of China. He passed away in 1967.

Why did Japan support the abdicated Qing emperor Puyi? How many times was Puyi crowned emperor?

To invade China, Japan paid close attention to select a Chinese representative for the future puppet regime, and the abdicated Qing emperor Puyi was its primary target. Early in November 1924, Feng Yuxiang (馮玉祥) ordered Lu Zhonglin (鹿鍾麟) and his troops to force Puyi out of the Forbidden City. Puyi first moved into the Northern Mansion (the former residence of his father Zaifeng﹝載灃﹞, regent of the Qing dynasty), and then fled into the Japanese Legation. At that time, all major Japanese newspapers published articles showing sympathy towards Puyi. After its occupation of Northeast China in 1931, Japan believed that it was time to use Puyi. There were two logical reasons for choosing him: first, the Qing emperor had after all been the ruler of China; and second, as the Qing regime originated from the north-eastern part of China, it was believed that Puyi would gain support from the region. This was the third time Puyi was crowned emperor after inheriting the throne of the Qing dynasty from 1908 to 1912 and being restored by Zhang Xun (張勳) from 1 to 12 July 1917.

Source of most photos used in this feature piece: Fotoe.