US containment in Asia -> Reconstruction of post-war Japan and US-Japanese relations Flashcards
what event can be viewed as the first act of the Cold War in Japan?
Hiroshima was hit by the Atomic bomb on August 6th 1945
how many people died within the four months of the Hiroshima bombing?
146,000 died within four months of the bombing
what were the reasons for the US bombing of Hiroshima?
- US displaying their strength to the USSR
- Japan’s expansionism and attack on Pearl Harbour
what quotes describe atomic warfare and the Hiroshima bombing?
- ‘atomic warfare is the gift that keeps giving’ -> has prolonged implications
- ‘the last shock of WWII and the first shock of the Cold War’
how was Japan ‘opened-up’ to capitalism?
- Commodore Matthew C. Perry opened Japanese ports to American trade
- Japan forced to end isolationist foreign policy and becomes capitalist to avoid China’s fate
- abolishes feudalism and servitude to allow business innovation to take place by colonising neighbours due to its lack of raw materials
which places did Japan take over in 1890s?
- 1895: Japan took over Taiwan from China and exploited it
- 1890s: Japan starts take over in Korea for its resources whilst also considering Manchuria
what previous conflict did Japan have with Russia?
- interest in Taiwan and Manchuria brought Japan in conflict with old established white Russians
- Russo-Japanese War: 1904-1906
- Russia took all of Korea and a chunk of Manchuria
- emergence of Japan pleases Britain as they can contain their old enemy of Russia
- alliance between Britain and Japan last until 1931
How did the Wallstreet Crash in America affect the rest of the world?
- Oct 1929: rest of world economy crashes
- Japan was first country to react in military fashion against this
- 1931: invades the rest of Manchuria
- 1937: Japanese invade northern and coastal China -> stemming from bad blood between China and Japan
what places did Japan take over from December 1941 to May 1942?
- Dec 1941-May 1942: Japanese take Burma, Malaysia, Hong Kong from the British, Philippines from Americans
- Japanese humiliate and kill off the myth of white invincibility
- when Japan are defeated in August 1945, the region becomes a power vacuum
outline the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942:
- capital of British power in East Asia
- meant to be an impregnable fortress
- Japanese destroy British prestige forever
- Churchill called it “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”
what were the consequences of the collapse of Japan?
- the Second Chinese Civil War (March 1946-Dec 1949)
- the French Indochinese war (Dec 1946- July 1954)
briefly outline the French-Indochinese war (December 1946-July 1954)
- Ho Chi Minh (leader of the Vietnam Workers’ Party) declares independence for Vietnam although the French don’t agree
- a guerilla war breaks out
- $4 billion given from Americans to French to fight Ho Chi Minh
- US give $2.8 billion to Jiang Jieshi
what are the two key takeaways about the consequences of the collapse of Japan?
- In Asia, the Cold War was about imperialism vs nationalism
- Japan’s defeat created massive power vacuums across east and southeast Asia filled by Indo-Chinese wars
why did Japan matter to the USA?
- it had developed a superb manufacturing base after 1910
- was he only industrialised country in Asia and only nation to build a great navy
what are some examples of creations made by Japan?
- Mitsubishi Zero
- Chi-Ha tank
- Akagi aircraft carrier
How did Japan become a US occupation?
- Japan surrendered to Jiang Jieshi’s GMD forces unconditionally at end of WWII
- US began sole occupation which was agreed among the US, UK, USSR and China
- But USSR wanted Japan to be split like Germany
- Agreed occupation would last until 1952
Who was put in charge of rebuilding Japan?
- September 1945 - US General Douglas MacArthur was made SCAP (Supreme Commander of Allied Powers)
- Given decision powers to rebuild Japan
Describe the 1945-47 stage of US occupation:
- American military governor of Japan, Douglas MacArthur began a programme of demilitarisation and breaking up large business groupings
- also purged those associated with Japan’s aggressive policies of expansion and war in WWII (prosecuting war criminals, puts on trial imperialist politicians in charge of China)
- believed he was reforming Japan to make it conform to American model of capitalism
- People wanted occupation to have punishments and re-education
- There would be re-education, democratisation, economic reform, demilitarisation
how was MacArthur worsening the Japanese economic crisis?
- the war had destroyed regional networks of trade
- by 1946, acute hardship and shortages of food
- by purging Japanese business executives linked to aggressive nationalist groups of the war, MacArthur was worsening the Japanese economic crisis
how did MacArthur greatly reduce the powers of the Emperor of Japan?
- idea that the Emperor was divine was expressly denied
- Japan was given a parliament, the House of Representatives, provision made for regular elections and women allowed to vote for the first time
what did the May 1947 Constitution entail?
- trade unions were given legal status
- guarantees of human and civil rights given
- slavery was outlawed
- rights of religious minorities were recognised
- legalises the communist party
what did Article 9 of the May 1947 Constitution announce?
Article ) 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 dispute’
what did the US introduce in 1947 towards Japan?
From Summer of 1947, the USA introduced what became known as its ‘reverse course’
What did Kennan argue for the ‘reverse course’ in 1947?
- 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”
- from 1947 onwards, Truman’s overriding Asian policy objectives in Europe
what did the US dismiss Japan of and give them?
- decided that Japan would not have to pay reparations
- the de-industrialisation programme (breaking large business groupings) would be abandoned
- US sent Japan $500 million to help economic recovery (MP) to make it stable and prosperous
Describe the 1947-48 ‘reverse course’ stage of US occupation:
- In 1947, US policy towards Japan became less focused on punishment, more focused on recovery
- Development of democratic institutions and economic reconstruction to achieve political stability
- US targeted communists and sympathisers instead of war criminals
- Japan seen as essential element of US power base in eastern Asia
Why did US policy towards Japan change to a ‘reverse course’?
- Japan seen as essential element of US power base in eastern Asia
- Due to intensification of Cold War in Europe and growing threat of Communist forces against Nationalist China
- Japan needed to be a rich US ally to prevent growth of communist influences in Japan and Asia
what made Japan an invaluable Cold War asset?
- Treated as the Asian equivalent of Western Germany; a nation whose industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and technological prowess made it both the engine of regional economic growth and a Cold War asset of incalculable value
- aimed to turn Japan from a mortal enemy to a valuable ally
- Japan will be a barrier against communist expansionism
what did American generals warn Truman about early in 1948?
Early in 1948, American generals warned Truman that if Japan fell under Communist influence, the USSR would gain an additional war-making potential equal to 25% of their existing capacity (could win the CW)
what did Secretary of State, Dean Acheson similarly outline in December 1949?
- In December 1949, Dean Acheson similarly outlined issue of Japan’s importance for the overall power imbalance between the two superpowers
- “Were Japan added to the Communist bloc, the Soviets would acquire skilled manpower and industrial potential capable of significantly altering the balance of world power”
Describe the 1949 economic stabilisation stage of US occupation:
- Period focused on economic recovery, austerity and adopting US capitalist system
- ‘Super balanced budget’ increased income and reduced expenditure and borrowing
- Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
- Japan joins GATT to increase trade
Explain what the ‘super balanced budget’ is:
- Former Detroit banker, Joseph Dodge worked with Japan’s Finance Minister, Hayato Ikeda
- Set a surplus target of nearly 157 million yen (just over $4 million)
- All gov. income and spending was monitored and stuck to strict guidelines
- Aimed at balancing income and expenditure to minimise borrowing and create surplus for extra stability
- Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
what does GATT stand for?
The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was created with the UN at end of WWII
what did the GATT do?
- Multinational agreement to manage international trade and tried reducing tariffs and duties to encourage international trade
- Increased Japan’s access to Western trade
- Prevented trade with communist China from late 1950
How did the communist world react to US policy in Japan?
USSR disapproved of rebuilding Japan’s economy as it would restore its military strength
what did the US policy in Japan partly encourage the USSR to do?
partly led to signing of Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance between PRC and USSR in February 1950
What was the ‘Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance’?
- Signed between USSR and PRC on 14 February 1950
Recognised PRC and recalled recognition of ROC - Aimed at preventing aggression from Japan and its allies
- Would resort to military means if they were attacked by Japan or its allies
what increased Japan’s importance to US thinking in October 1949 and June 1950?
The victory of Mao in the Second Chinese Civil War (October 1949) and the outbreak of the Korean War (June 1950) increased Japan’s importance to US thinking
- reflected in the San Francisco Peace Treaty
when was the San Francisco Peace Treaty and what was it?
- Signed on 8 September, 1951 between Japan and Allied Powers
- Ended US occupation
- Administrative control of the island of Okinawa
- Right to prevent Japan from permitting other countries to use its bases
- right to use force to quell disturbances in Japan
- Japan surrendered claims to territory in China, Korea and Taiwan
- Japan would provide compensation to Allied civilians and prisoners-of-war
- makes Japan a regional asset to contain communism
how was the San Francisco Peace Treaty relatively lenient to Japan?
- they did not have to pay reparations or apologise for war crimes
- however, reparations to be made to war-affected states e.g Vietnam, Philippines, Burma, Indonesia
Japan required to sign US-Japan Security Treaty (1951)
How did the USSR react to the ‘San Francisco Peace Treaty’?
Did not sign it
- Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko protested it turned Japan into a US military base
when was the US-Japan Security Treaty signed?
In 1951 and was a bilateral security agreement
what did the US-Japan Security Treaty give the US?
Gave US:
- Unrestricted use of military bases in Japan
- Administrative control of Okinawa (island separate from Japan’s mainland)
- Right to use military force to intervene in any internal disorder in Japan
- Right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states
Why did the US and Japan create the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Security Treaty?
- Clear that Japan was vital for containment in Asia
- Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida used opportunity to restore Japan’s sovereignty and gain security from US
- In return, Japan would accept US troops on its land
