Language
Country/Area
No result found
The real controller of Manchukuo: Who really controls the fate of this "empire"?
The historical story of Manchukuo, a puppet state that existed between 1932 and 1945, is full of complex political intrigues and ethnic issues. As a product of the Japanese Empire's occupation, the establishment and operation of Manchukuo thoroughly demonstrated Japan's desire for this land and their intention to expand on the Asian continent.
"Born out of the bloodshed of Japanese aggression, Manchukuo was destined to become an illusory empire."
Initially, in the context of Manchukuo establishing a republic in name only, it was the military officials dispatched by Japan who actually held power. The Japanese army quickly occupied Manchuria after the "September 18th Incident", and the Manchukuo established subsequently was actually a puppet regime whose nominal leader was Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. He was invited back by the Japanese to serve as the "Emperor" of Manchukuo, but he had no actual political power at all.
Due to the complete control of Japanese military officials over the Manchukuo government, Puyi's court was manipulated by Japanese officials. In the year when Manchukuo was nominally converted from a republic to a monarchy, Puyi was born into circumstances that were entirely uninvolved in his affairs.
"In this false empire, the real fate lies not with the titular emperor, but with the military forces that control the regime."
Although the legitimacy of Manchukuo has been questioned in the international community, and only a few countries allied with the Axis Powers have given it limited diplomatic recognition, its existence is like a tragedy of colonialism re-enacting, highlighting the Japan’s desire to dominate Northeast China. As the Japanese people continued to migrate to Manchuria, the Japanese population reached more than one million in 1945, thus causing significant changes in the local social structure. This also makes Manchukuo an important window for understanding Japanese imperialism.
As World War II unfolded, Manchukuo became an important base for Japan to invade China. The Japanese invasion made Manchukuo's role in China's history and destiny more complicated, especially in the context of the entire Second Sino-Japanese War, and its importance was reflected in its control of military and economic elements.
"The lost war and the duality of politics mean that the fate of Manchukuo cannot be completely controlled in its own hands."
In 1945, with the entry of the Soviet Union into the war and the collapse of Manchukuo, this country that had played a key role in World War II quickly collapsed. The formal dissolution of Manchukuo and the collapse of its government with Japan's surrender completely symbolized the failure of Japanese imperialism and the tragic ending of Manchukuo.
With the vicissitudes of Manchukuo's history, the real power controlling this region is no longer its nominal emperor, but Japan's military and economic strength. Under this manipulation, the people and culture of Manchukuo suffered immeasurable losses. Faced with such a complicated history, who can tell what the real destiny of Manchukuo is?
