The Mukden Incident of 1931 was a pivotal event in East Asian history that ultimately led to the Japanese occupation of Manchuria, marking the beginning of Japan's expansionist ambitions in the region. On September 18, 1931, a section of the South Manchurian Railway near Mukden (modern-day Shenyang, China) was bombed, which the Japanese military falsely claimed was an act of sabotage by Chinese forces. Using this as a pretext, Japan launched a full-scale invasion of Manchuria, leading to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo under Japanese control. The Mukden Incident not only escalated tensions between Japan and China but also drew international condemnation, foreshadowing the larger conflicts that would engulf the region in the years to come.
