Indoor Flag of the Nanking Puppet State by Zeljko Heimer

History: In December 1937, the Japanese took Nanking. The following year, Wang Jingwei (one of Sun Yat-sen's close followers and a rival of Chiang Kai-shek) began secret talks with the Japanese and, in December 1938, left Chungking (seat of the Kuomintang government) for Hanoi, where he issued an endorsement of a proposal for an armistice to the Sino-Japanese conflict.

On March 30th 1940 the puppet state of Nanking was formed, and Jingwei became head of state. Jingwei served as both President of the Executive Yuan and Chairman of the National Government.

This regime then embarked upon a strategy of trying to recruit regional warlords to the Japanese side.

                       Outdoor Flag of the Nanking Puppet State by Jaume Ollé

Type: Nominally independent Japanese Puppet State

Head of State: Wang Jingwei (from March 30^th, 1940 till November 10^th, 1944) and then Chen Gongbo till the end of the war.

Official Name: National Government of the Republic of China.

Existence: Founded 30^th of March 1940 and occupied by Chang Kai-shek's Chinese Nationalist troops on 23^rd August 1945.

Area: 1,264,000 km² 

Population: 182,000,000 people.

                                      Jack of the Nanking Puppet State by Jaume Ollé

Declared war on the allies: 9^th January, 1943

Background: Wang Jingwei’s puppet regime (sometimes called the Reformed Government from 1938-1940) was one of two Japanese puppet regimes (excluding Manchukuo and Inner Mongolia) in China. The other was the Provisional Government in Peking (formed in 1937).

The Japanese aim was to divide China into smaller areas to be administered effectively. In 1940, the Nationalist Government of China was formed by the combination of the Nanking and Peking governments, however all other regimes were subordinate to that of Nanking China.

Insignia of the Nanking Puppet State

Armed Forces: Wang Jingwei’s troops were never  really trusted by the Japanese, and were hated by both Nationalist and Communist Chinese as well as the Japanese alike. The primary function of the armed forces was for security of the puppet state and to maintain control over the populace. Therefore, many troops were employed on security detail and anti-partisan sweeps  within Nanking China. As well as this, active operations against the communist guerrillas in Northern China were mounted. For the most part, these puppet troops were poorly armed, equipped and trained. They fought for a variety of motivations including loyalty to their commander or because they had no choice.

                                             Ki-9s in the service of the Nanking Puppet air force

         Naval ensign of the Nanking Puppet State by Miru Takano

Air Force: The Reformed Government of China Air Force (air force to the predecessor of the Nationalist Government of China in Nanking) was formed in 1938 when it acquired Japanese gliders for pilot training purposes. Markings included Japanese-style roundels on the wings with the Nationalist five-stripes rudder.

In 1940, Japan allowed the formation of the National Government of China Air Force. A unit equipped with Nakajima Ki-27 fighters was proposed, but the Japanese never trusted the Chinese enough to deliver the aircraft. Ki-9 biplanes were delivered, however.

                                                                Ki-9s in the service of the Nanking Puppet air force

                Last updated:  18 January 2005