Japan, China and Taiwan (S2.5) Flashcards
(43 cards)
What idea did the US introduce as the origins for the reconstruction of post-war Japan?
A ‘reverse course’
> Not focusing on punishment, instead on the development of democratic institutions and economic reconstruction
What economic methods did the US undertake for economic stabilisation in Japan?
Price and wage control, and a balanced budget, with efficient taxation
> Based on control and austerity, but to accelerate economic recovery
What did Japan join in 1950 which strengthened their access to Western trade, but while preventing trade with China?
GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), created by the UN to minimise tariffs and duties to maximise international trade.
Who was General MacArthur?
Governor of Japan during the period of occupation
> Later involved in the Korean War and controversy over calls for atomic bomb usage on China.
What were MacArthur’s initial changes in Japan?
- Significantly reduced the powers of the Emperor, and established suffrage, regular elections and a parliament.
- Established a new constitution in May 1947, establishing legal status for trade unions, human and civil rights, outlawing slavery and recognising religious rights
What does Article 9 of the Japanese constitution state?
Article 9 of the Constitution announced that the ‘Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes’
Who encouraged the ‘reverse course’ in Japan, and why?
Kennan argued that in terms of the global balance of power, a strong, rebuilt Japan and Germany would counter Soviet power without threatening Western interests
> Rebuilding Germany and Japan would make them “immune to Communism”
> Decided that Japan would not have to pay reparations
How much did the US send Japan for economic recovery?
$500 million
What three actions and events bolstered Japan’s geopolitical significance to the USA in 1950?
- Mao Zedong signed the Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship in Feb 1950.
- Korean War began in June 1950
- China joined North Korea in the Korean War in November 1950
What was signed between the US and Japan in September 1951?
San Francisco Peace Treaty
What was the San Francisco Peace Treaty, and what was remarkable about it?
A treaty to decide on the punishment Japan would face for WWII
> Was remarkable by its brevity and limitations
What did the San Francisco Peace Treaty not include, which was surprising, and who refused to sign the treaty?
It did NOT
> place significant restrictions on its economy or future political model
> identify Japan’s responsibility or impose reparations
> restrict future rearmament
The USSR and China did not sign the treaty.
What did the San Francisco Peace Treaty include?
Recognised the full sovereignty of Japan
Forced them to give up neighbouring territories
What bilateral security agreement was signed in 1951, and what were its terms?
US-Japan Security Treaty
> Gave USA unrestricted use of military bases in Japan, administrative control of Okinawa, right to use military force in Japan, and right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states.
How much money was spent on Japan during the Korean War, compared to the total amount spent during the Korean War?
$3 billion spent on Japan, out of a total of $18 billion
> arguably the only winner of the Korean War
What had been established by August 1952, in terms of Japanese rearmament, furthered by 1954?
National Safety Agency (NSA), comprising of over 100,000 ground and maritime personnel
> By 1954, a new Self-Defence Force was established
What drove US policy towards Japan up until 1954?
Driven by the threat of communism in Korea
What was the Chinese Civil War, when did it start and last until, and who won?
- Civil war in China fought between the nationalist Guomindang (GMD)-led government and the Communist Party of China (CCP)
> 1927 until October 1949
> Mao Zedong declared in Bejing, the establishment of the PRC (People’s Republic of China)
Who was the leader of the GMD, and what were his traits?
Jiang Jeshi
> Militaristic pro-capitalist and nationalist
> Authoritarian in Taiwan
Who was the leader of the CCP, and what were his traits?
Mao Zedong
> Communist and nationalist, head of CCP by 1930
> Nationalist OVER communist (evident through later Sino-Soviet split)
What was Stalin’s role in the Chinese Civil War?
- Soviets gave the CCP almost a million rifles, as well as machine guns, other types of weapons, boats, vehicles and tanks from surrendering Japanese forces
> PLA taught by Soviet advisors
Who did Stalin prefer to be in power in China originally, and why?
Stalin preferred Jiang in power
> Agreed to give him Manchuria post-WWII
> Wanted better relations with the West
> Stalin realised that his movement was intensely nationalist
Why did Stalin eventually back Mao’s government?
Decided to openly back Mao in the summer of 1949
> West were bulking up (NATO in April 1949; failure of the Berlin Blockade in May 1949; establishing of the FRG in May/September 1949)
> Decides to back him to restore and recover lost prestige
What was signed in February 1950?
Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Alliance
