Manchukuo Established

December 1928 - In an alliance between General Yang Yuting and the Kwantung Army following the chaos that nearly shattered Manchuria as numerous contenders to Zhang Zuolin's throne emerged, unrest throughout the country was gradually quelled as all organized resistance found itself crushed by their forces in order to return peace to the land. Their victory did not immediately end all conflict as numerous Chinese volunteer armies arose consistently battling to oust Japanese and pro-Japanese forces for the next several years.

With many in Manchuria holding negative views of Yang Yuting as a traitor and puppet of the Japanese, the Kwantung Army decided it best to create a new government under a respected head of state. Thus, they established the independent kingdom of Manchukuo under the last Chinese Emperor Puyi (though he served as Chief Executive from 1929 -1931 before being declared Emperor). Yang Yuting would be appointed head of Manchukuo's military as well as Pu-yi's Prime Minister.

SOURCE: The First Emperor of Manchukuo: The autobiography of Aisin-Gioro Pu Yi