Abstract

This study explores the industrial policies of Manchukuo in Xing’an Province (1931-1945), focusing on their strategic importance in Japan’s broader Manchuria-Mongolia policies. Xing’an Province, located in the eastern Inner Mongolia region, held significant geopolitical and economic value due to its abundant natural resources, including timber and livestock. The Japanese Kwantung Army and the Manchukuo government implemented industrial policies that sought to exploit these resources while promoting nominal “autonomy” for the region’s Mongolian population. However, these policies often masked underlying colonial control, aligning with Japan’s military and economic expansionist objectives. The establishment of Xing’an Province was driven by Japan’s strategic need to secure its northern frontier and counter Soviet influence. Initially, policies emphasized harmony and autonomy, incorporating traditional Mongolian administrative systems. However, as Japan entered a wartime economy in the late 1930s, resource management became more centralized. Industrial policies, including strict regulations on forestry and livestock, were implemented to secure vital war supplies. These efforts significantly diminished Mongolian autonomy and integrated the region’s economy into the Japanese wartime system. Forestry and livestock management were central to Manchukuo’s industrial strategy in Xing’an. The Greater Khingan region’s vast forests supplied critical timber for construction and war production, while the livestock industry provided essential resources such as wool, leather, and meat. Japan introduced modern management systems but also intensified resource extraction and imposed stringent controls over local industries. These policies disrupted traditional Mongolian livelihoods, leading to the socioeconomic decline of nomadic communities. Ultimately, Manchukuo’s industrial policies in Xing’an Province reveal the duality of Japan’s colonial approach: leveraging the rhetoric of development and autonomy while enforcing strict control to serve imperialist goals. These policies contributed to the transformation of Xing’an into a logistical and colonial hub for Japan’s war efforts, underscoring the limits of the “harmony of five races” ideology. This study highlights the complexities of border governance and the interplay between resource exploitation and political control in a strategically significant region during a tumultuous period.