봉천군벌의 실질 지배권 확대 과정과 대외 정책: 1920년대를 중심으로

Abstract

This study examines the strategic maneuvers and territorial expansion of the Fengtian warlords in the context of the volatile geopolitical landscape of Northeast Asia during the 1920s. In the context of the competing interests of the Soviet Union, the Beijing government, and Japan, the decade was characterized by the Soviet Union’s need to establish buffer zones through Outer Mongolia and to safeguard its railway interests, the Beijing government’s efforts to maintain its territory and external sovereignty, and Japan’s objective to secure the Manchu- Mongolian region as a strategic asset. The Fengtian warlords, led by Zhang Zuolin, navigated these complex dynamics, negotiating and sometimes clashing with these powers to expand their influence and jurisdiction. Their ability to assert autonomy while leveraging the legitimate status granted by the central government of the Republic of China provided them with the necessary authority to manage and extend their control. This period culminated in the declaration of autonomous governance of the three Northeastern Provinces after the First Zhili-Fengtian War in 1922, reflecting the warlords’ reliance on and manipulation of international laws and treaties. The paper explores how the Fengtian warlords built and maintained internal and external relations to survive and expand their control in this geopolitically strategic location. The findings of this research provide a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between local power dynamics and international diplomacy that shaped the historical trajectory of East Asia in the early 20th century.