Zhang Jinghui

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Zhang Jinghui or Chang Ching-hui, (Traditional Chinese: 張景惠; 1871-1959) Chinese general and politician during the Warlord Era. Helped to establish the Japanese puppet regime of Manchukuo and was its second and last Prime Minister.

Zhang was born in Tai'an, southwest of Mukden. He joined the army at an early age and worked for the Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin for a time. He deserted Zhang Zuolin to join with Wu Peifu's Zhili clique. He later rejoined Zhang Zuolin and served as Minister of War at Peking from May 1926 to June 1927. He then served as Minister of Enterprise from June 1927 to June 1928. Within the year he became governor of the Harbin Special District in Manchuria.

In 1931 he became involved in the establishment of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. As Administrator of the Harbin Special District, he called a conference in his office on 27 September 1931 to discuss organize an "Emergency Committee of the Special District", to achieve the secession of Manchuria from China. When a local Self-Government Association was established in Heilungkiang Province following the expulsion of General Ma Zhanshan from Qiqihar, Zhang was inaugurated as Governor of the Province on 1 January 1932.

Ma Zhanshan agreed to terms with the Japanese on 14 February 1932 to retain his post as Governor of Heilungkiang Province and cooperate with the Japanese, Zhang was set aside. Ma later revolted in April of 1932 and Zhang took his place as Minister of Defense. On May 21, 1935, he succeeded Zheng Xiaoxu as the prime minister of Manchukuo. Zhang held the position until the collapse of Manchukuo in August of 1945. In 1943, a false report was published that he had poisoned his family and killed his Japanese advisor and other members of the Manchukuo government.

Following Operation August Storm Zhang was held in custody by the Soviet Union after the war and was later extradited to the People's Republic of China, where he died in captivity.

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