Cold war and the rest of the world: Rise of Japan

Question 1

When was the invasion of Manchuria and what is significant about it in post cold war analysis?

Answer 1

• Many see the invasion in 1937 as the start of the cold war itself

Question 2

USA had interests in Japan since?

Answer 2

1854 (Commodore Perry US navy and opening of Japan) = Japansese civil war, = Meije running shit = industrialised world power

Question 3

When was the Russo Japanese war?

Answer 3

1904 - 1905 (significant because it was the first time western power had been really significantly successfully challenged)

Question 4

Where did Japan control?

Answer 4

Taiwan, Korea and southern half of Sakhalin

Question 5

why is it likely it was successful as a world power?

Answer 5

Adoption of western policies

Question 6

What was Japan like in south east asia?

Answer 6

It took over every colonising power in the region (British, Dutch, French)

Question 7

How did Japan compare against USA? When was Okinawa captured?

Answer 7

lacked the military strength and resources to win a long protracted war:

• May 1945

Question 8

People only mention nuclear bombs but what were also devastating?

Answer 8

• 9th March 1945 US fire bombing of 120,000 people killed and or injured

Question 9

What was post war occupation of japan like?

Answer 9

single power occupation led by general MacArthur

Question 10

*Why did USSR allow an American occupation of Japan?

Answer 10

At Yalta it was agreed the USSR could have:

- Southern Sakhalin and Kurils (Warm water ports)

Question 11

What was the 1945-1947 period like for Japan?

Answer 11

• Post war period saw the destruction of Japanese military power and purge of military and political figures who collaborated with them
• US wanted a democratic, pacifist and dependent Japan

Question 12

What was a key policy of the USA in Japan?

Answer 12

• Zaibatsu, broken up (large industrial conglomerates, anti monopoly law and land reforms broke up large estates)

Question 13

What was article 9?

Answer 13

• Removed the sovereign right to war

Question 14

Why was communism a big threat to Japan?

Answer 14

• Post war, Chinese civil war was still going
• USSR just to the north
• Did not want to upset the Japanese people so kept the emperor

Question 15

What was the role of the monarchy in Japan? What was the system of government like?

Answer 15

• New constitution and the emperor was just symbolic
• A bicameral parliament was set up like UK with two elected chambers
• Yoshida was the new PM (centre right)
• New constitution accepted and monarchy was kept

Question 16

between 1948 and 1950 reform was halted, why was this? How was reform halted? (reversal)

Answer 16

• Because of Korean and Maoist troubles
• Japan was built up as a strategic power
• reintegration into the world community
• Reversal of Zaibatsu break up
• Release of pureged war time figure

Question 17

But what did the Japanese want?

Answer 17

• A break fron non stop reform

Question 18

Describe how Japan was seen as ready for independence in 1950. How did Yoshida react to this?

Answer 18

• Dulles and secretary of state Acheson looked at the possibility of Japan peace treaty, and to re-arm it.
• Yoshida was for independence but did not want to be re-militarised, it would stifle long term prosperity. (article 9)

Question 19

How did Japan support the Korean war?

Answer 19

No troops but supporting the USA with bases and supplies,

*Japan war profiteering with NSC 58 coming in in 1950

Question 20

When was Japan - America peace treaty?

Answer 20

1951

Question 21

What did the American - Japanese peace treaty mean in real terms?

Answer 21

• sovereignty restoration
• Japan lost northern territories of Kurils and Southern Sakhalin
• In south USA got Ryukyu and Bonin islands temporarily
• Japan would pay reparations to the nations it occupied in the form of credits, goods and services

Question 22

Who did not sign the 1951 Japanese peace treaty?

Answer 22

• PRC

- Russia

Question 23

The second mutual security treaty of 1951 meant what?

Answer 23

• USA kept bases in return for a security guarantee (USA pushed for 300,000 ground force)
• Yoshida breaks article 9, creation of 75,000 strong ground force and later a small navy / air force
• only last decade or so can Japan deploy troops abroad

Question 24

What was the Yoshida doctrine?

Answer 24

• Best way to restore Japan was limited defence spending and focus on industry
• US large scale tech transfers to Japan
• US opened market to Japanese goods, whilst allowing Tokyo to protect her markets with import controls

Question 25

crucially when was the NSC 68 declassified (good historiography)

Answer 25

• 1975

Question 26

USA supported Japanese integration into what institutions?

Answer 26

• IMF, Wold bank, (by the 60s Japan was a major economic power)

Question 27

Okinawa was important why?

Answer 27

• It was the first major US nuclear base in the far east

Question 28

Describe Japanese - China relations

Answer 28

• Yoshida was loyal to the USA but wit ha US peace treaty it was pro Taiwan. Trade Embargo with China

Question 29

When did Japan support the USA?

Answer 29

• Formosa straits crisis 1958
• CMC 1962
• No public criticisms of USA in Vietnam

Question 30

When could Chinese Japanese relations improve?

Answer 30

• With Nixon china rapproachment

Question 31

When did Japan exchange ambassadors with the soviet union?

Answer 31

• 1956 but little improvements due to Kurils and Sukhalin

Question 32

When did Japan fund the Gulf war?

Answer 32

1990

Question 33

in 2012 Obama described Japan as?

Answer 33

The pivot to east asia