Puyi, the former Emperor of China, alongside General Nobuyoshi Muto and Chang Hsiao-Hsu, standing with a group after the signing of the Japan-Manchukuo Protocol. Signed on 15 September 1932, this agreement secured Japan’s official recognition of Manchukuo, the puppet state established in north-eastern China following Japan’s invasion of Manchuria. The protocol formalised Japan’s military and political influence over the region, with Puyi serving as head of state under close Japanese supervision. General Muto, a senior officer in the Kwantung Army, played a key role in enforcing Japan’s control, while Chang Hsiao-Hsu, a high-ranking official in Manchukuo’s government, worked to legitimise the regime. The signing marked a critical step in Japan’s broader expansionist ambitions in East Asia, further escalating tensions in the region.