Japan's Puppet Government and Toehold in China

Manchukuo (1932–1945, 満州国, lit. "State of Manchuria") was a former puppet state created in 1932 by Imperial Japan in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, with the cooperation of former Qing Dynasty officials. The Japanese military, wishing to secure northeastern China as an industrial colony and source of raw materials, staged the Mukden Incident on September 18, 1931, as a pretext for taking over Manchuria. On February 18, 1932, Japan declared the establishment of the "Great Manchu Nation" (Manchukuo, Pinyin: Manzhouguo)[1]. The former Emperor of China, Puyi (溥儀), was installed by the Japanese as the ruler; real authority rested in the hands of Japanese military officials. The Manchu ministers served as front-men for their Japanese vice-ministers, who made all decisions. Japan developed industry and agriculture in Manchukuo, set up an education system, and built an extensive system of railroads and roads.