Ting Chao

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(1883-1939)

General Ting Chao or Ding Chao (born 1883; died 1939) is known for his defense of Harbin during the Japanese Invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and 1932.

Following the Invasion of Manchuria by the Imperial Japanese Army and the capture of Liaoning and Jilin provinces. Hostilities did not commence in the Harbin area until the end of January 1932 when General Ting Chao resolved to defend the northern metropolis, a key hub of rail and riverine communication, against the approach first of General Hsi Hsia(general)'s "New Kirin" Army and then Japanese troops. He appealed to the city's Chinese residents to join his railway garrison regulars in battle.

Ting Chao's beaten forces retired from Harbin to the northeast down the Sungari River, to join the Lower Sungari garrison of Gen. Li Du as the nucleus of armed opposition in the north. After his retreat from Harbin he was made Chairman of the Government of Jilin Province and opposed the new puppet government of Manchukuo in their anti bandit operations of the pacification campaign.