As a son of Zhang Zuolin who was a new load of Manchuria after the Qing Dynasty had fallen and killed by Japanese in 1928, he was politically unstable among Japanese army, Chinese nationalists and communists. There was also Stalin behind them to make the situation more complicated.
In 1936, however, Chiang Kai-shek was putting the communists into the final corner at last to win but Zhang Xueliang, as a Chiang's commander, had ruined Chiang's all efforts by instigating the infamous Xi'an Incident. He survived in Taiwan and the U.S. for the rest of his life.
Japanese communists celebrate the revived May Day on May 1, 1946.
They called the Allied troops "People's Liberation Army" and marched to the Allied GHQ building to show their gratitude.
Stalin's dream came true.
Hotsumi Ozaki (1901-1944)
Japanese journalist of The Asahi Shimbun who worked as Soviet's spy behind the scene together with Richard Sorge (1895-1944).
Fumimaro Konoe (1891-1945)
Japanese PM during 1937-1939 and 1940-1941.
He was strongly encouraged to fight with Chiang Kai-shek by the spy Ozaki as his political adviser.
Ozaki's nest, The Asahi Shimbun, also positively promoted the anti-China campaign with such a famous slogan like "撃ちてし止まむ (uchiteshi yaman = Keep up the Fight)". Japanese leaders were much satisfied with it.
Thanks Jim.
I simply wonder what Vladimir Putin is seeing in the ongoing confrontation between the China/NK and the U.S.
This is rather historical than political from our lesson.