Chapter 5 - US Containment In Action In Asia

Question 1

Why did US policy towards Japan?

Answer 1

• After WW2, USA had sole occupation of Japan
• Lasted until 1952
• Sept 1945 = MacArthur given decision-making powers to help rebuild Japan
• e.g.: re-education, economic reform, demilitarisation

Question 2

What was MacArthur’s role in Japan?

Answer 2

• 1949 = MacArthur made Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers
• Told measures must ensure Japan’s economic stabilisation

Question 3

What was the ‘super balanced budget’?

Answer 3

• Arranged by Dodge (MacArthur’s economic advisor) and Japan’s finance minister
• To establish lasting economic recovery
• Set a target of surplus of 157 million yen
• BUT initially led to unemployment due to business closures

Question 4

What was GATT?

Answer 4

• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
• US demanded Japan join
• Strengthened Japanese access to Western trade
• Prevented trade with communist China from late 1950

Question 5

Why did US-Japanese relations change in 1950?

Answer 5

• Feb 1950 = China formed military alliance with USSR
• USA saw itself even more so as global policeman
• Japan now crucial to contain communism in Far East

Question 6

Dulles’ role in Japan

Answer 6

• Chief negotiator for Second World War peace treaty between USA and Japan

Question 7

What DIDN’T the San Francisco Peace Treaty do?

Answer 7

• Place significant restrictions on Japan’s economy
• Place significant restrictions on future political model
• Identify Japan as responsible for war
• Restrict Japanese future rearmament
• Impose reparation payments for Southeast Asian states occupied by Japan during war

Question 8

Who didn’t sign the San Francisco Peace Treaty?

Answer 8

• USSR
• People’s Republic of China

Question 9

What DID the San Francisco Peace Treaty do?

Answer 9

• Recognise full sovereignty of Japanese people
• Force Japan to renounce claims ti many neighbouring territories (e.g.: Korea, Spratly Island, Paracel Islands)

Question 10

What did the US-Japan Security Treaty give the USA?

Answer 10

• Unrestricted use of military bases in Japan
• Administrative control of Okinawa
• Right to use military force to intervene in any internal disorder in Japan
• Right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states

Question 11

How was Japan rearmed?

Answer 11

• MacArthur ordered establishment of Japanese National Police Reserve
  (75,000 men, trained by US military advisory team)
• 1952 = Japanese gov established National Safety Agency
  (110,000 ground troops and 7,600 maritime personnel)
• Nov 1952 = US announced plans for Japanese Air Force
• July 1954 = agreed Self-Defence Force to be created (140,000 strong) and funded by USA

Question 12

What was the significance of Acheson’s White Paper?

Answer 12

• Justified US withdrawal from direct military support for Jieshi in Chinese civil war
• Wanted to support KMT in China but secretly so US not an ‘imperialist menace’
• Didn’t want to reinforce a Sino-Soviet alliance

Question 13

What was the significance of the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?

Answer 13

• Established by Acheson
• Focused on military security of the Pacific
• Criticised for leaving Korea out of defensive perimeter

Question 14

What were the reasons for the NSC-68?

Answer 14

• Sep 1949 = USSR tested its own atomic bomb
• Truman’s ‘loss of China’

Question 15

What was the significance of the NSC-68?

Answer 15

• Stressed urgency of US developing political, economic and military power
• Powerful military focus on containment