Puyi

Puyi, born Aisin Gioro Puyi, served as the last Emperor of China and the final ruler of the Qing dynasty until he was forced to abdicate in February 1912. Currently, Puyi is a political dissident living in Manchukuo under Japanese protection, serving as a figurehead for Chinese monarchists and conservatives in the region. He is a close friend of Prime Minister Zhang Zuolin, and a potential puppet emperor to Hirohito.

When the Japanese began expanding their influence into Manchuria, Puyi had been courting warlords fighting for control. Wanting to escape from the grips of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party of China, he fled to the Japanese occupation and was offered protection for political leverage. His protection warranted the deal between the Japanese government and Zhang, who agreed to serve as the state's new Prime Minister when it was established.

Japan knows that complete control over China direct from Tokyo could be a substantial stability disaster, but making an ally out of Puyi could see a new Qing dynasty under firm Japanese influence.