Zhang Yanqing (Manchukuo)
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yanqing was a politician in the early Republic of China
who subsequently served as Foreign Minister in the Cabinet of the Empire of Manchukuo
. His father, Zhang Zhidong
was an important official in the late Qing Empire and his brother, Zhang Renli was an official in the Reorganized National Government of China.
Hebei Province (outside of Tianjin
), Zhang studied foreign languages at Tsingtao, and went to Japan to study at the Gakushuin
Peer’s School in 1920.
After his return to China in 1922, Zhang was appointed mayor of Wafangdian
in Liaoning Province, and in 1924 was promoted to governor of Zhengding County in Hebei Province, and in 1925 was again promoted to governor of Tianjin under the Beiyang Government
. In 1926, Tianjin was elevated to the status of a special province, and Zhang added the post of Chief of Police of Hebei Province to his list of positions. The following year, he also became a councilor to the Transportation Ministry and Vice Chairman of the Defense Council of Kirin Province
in Manchuria
. In 1931, he moved to Changchun
where he chaired the Economic Development Department of the government of Kirin Province.
Following the Mukden Incident
in September 1931 and, Zhang assisted Xi Qia
in issuing a proclamation declaring Kirin Province to be independent of the Republic of China, and assisted the Imperial Japanese Army
achieve a bloodless occupation of Kirin City
. After the proclamation of the State of Manchukuo
he participated in the Manchukuo Senate, speaking out strongly in favor of a monarchy
, and thus opposing proposals by Zang Shiyi
that Manchukuo become a republic
. In March 1932, he accepted the cabinet-level post of Industry Minister of the Empire of Manchukuo. He became one of the directors of the Concordia Association
in July 1932. In May 1935, he replaced Xie Jishi
as Foreign Minister, a post which he held until May 1937.
Following the collapse of Manchukuo, Zhang fled to Japan with the help of some associates of Mitsuru Toyama. He died in Japan in 1951 at the age of 54.
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
who subsequently served as Foreign Minister in the Cabinet of the Empire of Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
. His father, Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong ; Pseudonyms: Xiāngtāo , Xiāngyán , Yīgōng , Wújìng-Jūshì , later Bàobīng ; Posthumous name: Wénxiāng ) was an eminent Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who advocated for controlled reform...
was an important official in the late Qing Empire and his brother, Zhang Renli was an official in the Reorganized National Government of China.
Biography
A native of Nanpi CountyNanpi County
Nanpi County is a county of Hebei, China. It is under the administration of Cangzhou City.-Administrative Divisions:Towns:*Nanpi Town , Pingjiakou , Zhaizi , Baoguantun , Wangsi , Wumaying Townships:...
Hebei Province (outside of Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
), Zhang studied foreign languages at Tsingtao, and went to Japan to study at the Gakushuin
Gakushuin
The or Peers School is an educational institution founded in Tokyo in 1877, during the Meiji period, for the education of the children of the Japanese aristocracy, though it eventually also opened its doors to the offspring of extremely wealthy commoners...
Peer’s School in 1920.
After his return to China in 1922, Zhang was appointed mayor of Wafangdian
Wafangdian
Wafangdian is one of the three "Northern Cities" of Dalian, located in the south of Liaoning province in Northeast China. The city is famous for its ball bearing industry. Wafangdian Bearing Factory is the largest bearing manufacturer in Asia and was initially built by the Japanese during World...
in Liaoning Province, and in 1924 was promoted to governor of Zhengding County in Hebei Province, and in 1925 was again promoted to governor of Tianjin under the Beiyang Government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
. In 1926, Tianjin was elevated to the status of a special province, and Zhang added the post of Chief of Police of Hebei Province to his list of positions. The following year, he also became a councilor to the Transportation Ministry and Vice Chairman of the Defense Council of Kirin Province
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
. In 1931, he moved to Changchun
Changchun
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of 7,677,089 at the 2010 census under its jurisdiction, including counties and...
where he chaired the Economic Development Department of the government of Kirin Province.
Following the Mukden Incident
Mukden Incident
The Mukden Incident, also known as the Manchurian Incident, was a staged event that was engineered by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for invading the northern part of China known as Manchuria in 1931....
in September 1931 and, Zhang assisted Xi Qia
Xi Qia
Xi Qia , also Xi Xia , was a general in command of the Kirin Provincial Army of the Republic of China, who defected to the Japanese during the Invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and who subsequently served as a cabinet minister in Manchukuo....
in issuing a proclamation declaring Kirin Province to be independent of the Republic of China, and assisted the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
achieve a bloodless occupation of Kirin City
Jilin City
Jilin City is the second largest city of Jilin province in Northeast China. At the 2010 census, 4,414,681 people resided within its administrative area of and 1,975,803 in its built up area...
. After the proclamation of the State of Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
he participated in the Manchukuo Senate, speaking out strongly in favor of a monarchy
Monarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
, and thus opposing proposals by Zang Shiyi
Zang Shiyi
Zang Shiyi , was Chinese general and Governor of Liaoning Province at the time of the invasion of Manchuria in 1932.-Biography:Zang was born in Shenyang county of Liaoning Province in 1884. He traveled to Japan on a scholarship, and graduated from the cavalry school of the Imperial Japanese Army...
that Manchukuo become a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
. In March 1932, he accepted the cabinet-level post of Industry Minister of the Empire of Manchukuo. He became one of the directors of the Concordia Association
Concordia Association
The was a political party in Manchukuo. Established to promote the ideals of Pan-Asianism and the creation of a multi-ethnic nation-state and to create a structure which would gradually replace military rule over Manchukuo with a civilian control, the party was unable to fulfill its early...
in July 1932. In May 1935, he replaced Xie Jishi
Xie Jishi
Xie Jishi was a cabinet minister in the Japanese-dominated Empire of Manchukuo, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.-Biography:Xie Jishi was born in Hsinchu city, Taiwan in 1878, and attended the Japanese-run Shinchiku Kokugo Denshujo, where he studied the Japanese language...
as Foreign Minister, a post which he held until May 1937.
Following the collapse of Manchukuo, Zhang fled to Japan with the help of some associates of Mitsuru Toyama. He died in Japan in 1951 at the age of 54.