Editing Pope Pius XI (section)

=== Relations with East Asia ===
Under Pius XI, papal relations with East Asia were marked by the rise of the [[Empire of Japan]] to prominence, as well as the unification of [[Republic of China (1912-1949)|China]] under [[Chiang Kai-shek]]. In 1922 he established the position of Apostolic Delegate to China, and the first person in that capacity was [[Celso Benigno Luigi Costantini]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celso Costantini's Contribution to the Localization and Inculturation of the Church in China |url=http://www.hsstudyc.org.hk/en/tripod_en/en_tripod_148_03.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323144112/http://www.hsstudyc.org.hk/en/tripod_en/en_tripod_148_03.html |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=23 June 2013 |publisher=Holy Spirit Study Centre}}</ref> On 1 August 1928, the Pope addressed a message of support for the political unification of China. Following the [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]] in 1931 and the creation of [[Manchukuo]], the Holy See recognized the new state. On 10 September 1938, the Pope held a reception at [[Castel Gandolfo]] for an official delegation from Manchukuo, headed by Manchukuoan Minister of Foreign Affairs Ts'ai Yün-sheng.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chen Fang-Chung, "Lou Tseng-Tsiang, A Lover of His Church and of His Country" |url=http://www.hsstudyc.org.hk/en/tripod_en/en_tripod_153_06.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323144055/http://www.hsstudyc.org.hk/en/tripod_en/en_tripod_153_06.html |archive-date=23 March 2012 |access-date=23 June 2013 |publisher=Holy Spirit Study Centre}}</ref>