Manchukuo, Chinese Manzhouguo, puppet state created in 1932 by Japan out of the three

historic provinces of Manchuria (northeastern China). After the Russo-Japanese War (190405),
Japan gained control of the Russian-built South Manchurian Railway, and its army established a
presence in the region; expansion there was seen as necessary for Japans status as an
emerging world power. In 1931 the Japanese army created an excuse to attack Chinese troops
there, and in 1932 Manchukuo was proclaimed an independent state. The last Qing emperor
was brought out of retirement and made Manchukuos ruler, but the state was actually rigidly
controlled by the Japanese, who used it as their base for expansion into Asia. An underground
guerrilla movement composed of Manchurian soldiers, armed civilians, and Chinese communists
opposed the occupying Japanese, many of whom had come over to settle in the new colony. After
Japans defeat in 1945 the settlers were repatriated.