a group of Chinese militarists, based in the northeast, that was closely associated with the Japanese imperialists and played a major role in Chinese politics from 1920 and 1928. Led by Chang Tso-lin, the clique operated from a territorial base comprising the three northeastern provinces that made up Manchuria. From 1920 to 1928 the clique controlled the Peking government; in 1920 and 1921 it exercised control jointly with the Chihli clique, and in 1924 and 1925 it enjoyed the support of Feng Yü-hsiang. After the death of Chang Tso-lin in June 1928, the Fengt’ien clique recognized the authority of the Kuomintang government in Nanking.