© 2018 American University Model United Nations Conference All rights reserved. No part of this background guide may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without express written permission from the American University Model United Nations Conference Secretariat. Please direct all questions to [email protected] Ricardo Vergel-Negron and Sofia Garcia Chairs Distinguished Delegates, Faced with the crisis in the Pacific and tensions with China and North Korea, Japan faces a moral and practical dilemma. After over 72 years of pacifism, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe convenes his cabinet to meet the current crisis and prepare to protect against the ambition of the nations around Japan. The committee will look for viable solutions on how to deal with this crisis and at the same time ensure the stability of the country. We hope that this committee will help the delegates to understand better the dilemma faced by countries like Japan and the ways to solve it. We are really excited for the committee and hope that it will be a fascinating one for all delegates. Please keep in mind that this is a crisis committee and thus delegates must be prepared for an extremely fast paced debate and the use of press releases and communiqués. Portfolio powers will be allowed, but they will subject to the discretion of the dais. Also, we remind delegates that this background guide is merely a starting point for research and that you should not limit yourselves to it, but instead read about other topics relevant to the situation in Japan. It is our most sincere wish that all delegates enjoy this committee and that we will be able to resolve the many dilemmas that exist regarding this topic. We are extremely honored to be the dais members of this committee, our first experience in AmeriMUNC! Ricardo: For the past four years I have been a delegate in my country, Puerto Rico. As a member of Model United Nations in my high school, I had the experience to serve as secretary general in our intercollegiate competition, CSIMNU, and to be a member of the dias in several committees. I am currently a first-year student in AU, majoring in International Studies with a minor in Public Administration and Policy. In the past year, I was studying in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange, where I also had the chance of being a delegate in one competition. I am fascinated by international relations, specifically in Latin America and the politics of my country. I am very interested in what the delegates will bring to AmeriMUNC! Sofia: My name is Sofia Williamson-Garcia and I grew up in Gaithersburg, Maryland. My mom is originally from Spain and I am fluent in spanish, so I was ecstatic about a bilingual committee coming to AmeriMUNC! I am a freshman at AU’s School of International Service with a major in International Studies. I hope to do a concentration in Latin America, because I am passionate about helping to create self-sustaining political systems with decreased foreign intervention. I applied to my high school’s Model United Nations team as a junior, not knowing much about international politics and wanting to learn more. Little did I know that MUN would be the reason why I would decide to pursue a major in International Relations and immerse myself in the world of international politics as a whole! My first year I was a delegate at the North American Invitational Model United Nations conference (NAIMUN) hosted by Georgetown in a 200-person legal committee, but my experience was taken to a whole new level the following year when I was given the opportunity to represent Clodomiro Almeyda, a socialist revolutionary in Chile at the time of the 1989 “NO” vote against the militaristic dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. - Just remember that there is no point in participating in Model UN if you don’t have fun. The only time we will get upset is if you’re not enjoying your time. Other than that, we hope you are as excited as we are to welcome you all to the committee! Sincerely, Ricardo & Sofia Chairs Cabinet of the State of Japan THE CABINET of JAPAN 01 THE CABINET of JAPAN ABOUT JAPAN Japan is the only country to truly know the horrors of nuclear weapons. Yet, once again we find ourselves in the crosshairs of the world's deadliest weapon. As the steadfast counter balance to China in east Asia, we are a prime target of the DPRK’s aggression and missiles. Today, Japan faces a moral and practical dilemma. Internal Affairs for the Allied Powers (SCAP/GHQ) had the power to effectuate the terms of Article IX surrender. Historical Context Post-War Japan faced the crucial issue On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito of drafting a new constitution. Emperor expressed to the people of Japan his Hirohito, the Prime Minister Shidehara decision to settle after four years of war and his cabinet favored the 1889 Meiji due to the desire of “Japan's Constitution and were receptive of a self-preservation and the stabilization of replacement. Shidehara appointed an East Asia, it being far from our thought expert committee led by Jōji either to infringe upon the sovereignty Matsumoto, to suggest amendments to of other nations or to embark upon the existing constitution. On February territorial aggrandizement.” Hirohito 8, 1946, Matsumoto presented the “Gist declared the acceptance of the of the Revision of the Constitution.” provisions that the Allies established on Although the Potsdam Declaration the Potsdam Declaration of July 26, (1945) declared that the SCAP would 1945. Three weeks later, the Japanese assure the “freely expressed will of the Foreign Minister signed the Japanese people a peacefully inclined Unconditional Surrender, agreeing that and responsible government,” general Japan's war-making power would be MacArthur declined Matsumoto’s destroyed. Under this surrender proposal. On February 3, 1946, he Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme ordered American military lawyers to Commander draft a constitution based on his three principles: “(1) the preservation of the 02 Emperor System, (2) the total between the United States and Japan renunciation of war, and (3) the (1951), which established a ten-year abolition of the feudal system.” military agreement between both MacArthur proceeded without telling countries. The Treaty agreed to let the the Japanese government, which took United States remain on Japanese soil them by surprise on February 13, 1946, and establish their military presence. when the Japanese received the GHQ’s Additionally, Japan granted its rights of draft for consideration. self-defense to the United States and agreed that it could not allow the After being translated to Japanese and presence of any foreign military power discussed within the negotiations, the without the approval of the United Minister of State, Matsumoto, began a States. Such agreements gave the draft based on the GHQ draft. The GHQ advantage to the United States for the denied the majority of amendments advancement of U.S. forces in Asia proposed by Matsumoto. On March during the Vietnam War. 5th, the GHQ demanded that the Cabinet adopt their draft. They had no Development of Article IX choice but to adopt it. After final amendments, the draft was finished on The first post-war prime minister April 17, 1946. This draft defined war in Shigeru Yoshida established his Article IX: “as a sovereign right of the so-called Yoshida Doctrine, delegating nation, and the threat or use of force is the security responsibilities of the forever renounced as a means of country to the United States and settling disputes with other nations. The focusing on the economic maintenance of land, sea, and air strengthening of Japan. As part of forces, as well as other war potential, will never be authorized. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.” The Diet amended this article and finally approved on November 3, declaring the sincere aspiration to become “an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as a means of settling international disputes. (2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea and air forces, as well as another war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.” The implementation of Article IX led to the negotiation of the Security Treaty 03 THE CABINET of JAPAN 04 As a renewal of the 1951 treaty, a Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security Between the United States and Japan was signed in 1960 Yoshida’s doctrine, in 1954 he provisions and processes.” Given the proposed the Japanese Self Defence continuous debate of US presence in Forces (SDF). Although this proposal Okinawa due to the evasive attitude of seemed to be conflicting with Article 9, the US to confirm or deny the presence the government restated their right of of nuclear weapons in the base, prime civilian control in the government. Also, minister Satō established his Three Yoshida’s cabinet enforced nonmilitary Non-Nuclear Principles in 1967. These terms for the organization and functions principles made Japan pledge “not to of these forces. manufacture, possess, or permit the introduction of nuclear weapons onto As a renewal of the 1951 treaty, a Treaty Japanese soil.” In 1972, the attempt on of Mutual Cooperation and Security denuclearization seemed to fail after Between the United States and Japan the agreement of Okinawa’s reversion was signed in 1960. Amidst a rise of depended on the term that nuclear opposition to the revision of the treaty weapons would be allowed under due to the presence of US military in “emergency circumstances.” A Okinawa, the new agreement declassified US document in 2017 reinforced the presence of US military revealed that “the Foreign Ministry of bases in Japan.