WYOMUN III
China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Committee Chairs: Yu-Chia Cheng
Crisis Director: Isabel Coyle
Director-General: Sam Haward
Chief of Staff: David Easton
Secretary-General: Vishnu Paranandi
WYOMUN III
China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Greetings delegates!
My name is Yu-Chia Cheng, and I’ll be serving
as one of your chairs for this committee. Before we
delve into the specifics of Chinese history, first let me
introduce myself. I am currently a sophomore at
Wyoming High School, and I serve as the Secretary
of Programs and Recruitment in our school’s Model
U.N. club as well as the USG of Logistics for
WYOMUN III.
Outside of Model U.N., I am an avid violinist,
volunteer, traveler, and food lover. I am a member of
the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, continuing my fourth year in the program. I
am also our class’s Vice President, and I also devote most of my time to the community.
I volunteer at the local library, as well as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Wyoming Middle
School, and other miscellaneous locations. I am fluent in three languages- English,
Taiwanese, and Chinese- and am learning my fourth and fifth languages, French and
Japanese. I love being globally aware, which has definitely been an impetus in my love
for Model U.N.
Anyways, that’s enough about me. I can’t wait to get to know you all and work
with you in this committee! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to
email me (​[email protected]​), or our staff (​[email protected]​).
Best of Luck,
Yu-Chia Cheng
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Hello delegates!
My name is Isabel Coyle. I am very excited to be
serving as one of your chairs for this committee. I am very
interested in this topic and I know you too will soon be
fascinated by its complex nature. I realize you are ready to
begin your research, but before you do, here’s a little
information about me.
I am a Sophomore at Wyoming High School. I
participate in Model UN, Newspaper, and Mock Trial. I also
play softball and cross country. My favorite class last year was AP World History. I love
history because I find it more interesting and rewarding than any other subject. In
seventh grade I spent a year abroad in Europe. My experiences there have shaped me
as a person and broadened my perspective. My travels and love of history explain my
great interest in Model UN. Last year I participated in NUMUN, and I participated in
OMUN in middle school. This conference experience will help me serve all of you to the
best of my ability. I greatly look forward to meeting you, watching you debate, and
seeing you learn.
If you are have questions about the committee or how WYOMUN works, do not
hesitate to email me ​[email protected]​.
Sincerely,
Isabel Coyle
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Introduction
In 1937, Japan, a growing industrial and military power, declared war against
China due to territorial disputes. China was unprepared for such an event, and as it
struggled to defend itself, it simultaneously became engulfed in a domestic power
struggle. The two major political parties, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the
Nationalist Kuomintang Party (KMT) have long been competing for control of China.
They had a history of conflict, even entering an intense civil war just a decade earlier.
However, given the precarious position of China in global politics, the two were forced to
dissolve disagreements, and unify in attempt to restore China’s former order. With the
start of what would become the Second Sino-Japanese War, the two parties formed the
Chinese Second United Front to fight back. While the merger sustained for a few
months, disputes between the parties began to erupt following the start of the
Sino-Japanese War.
The year is now 1938, and the Second Sino-Japanese War is in full swing.
Delegates in this committee will be representing the members of the two Chinese
parties as they meet in Beijing, China. They must decide how to manage both military
efforts against Japan as well as domestic issues surrounding conflict between the two
parties. The fighting between the two parties must be resolved soon. The government of
China must take unified action in the war against Japan, or else the nation may be
destroyed by Japan or internally ripped apart by its own domestic conflicts. To truly
understand the issues at hand, delegates must consider the history of recent internal
and external Chinese conflicts.
Background Information
Early Conflict Between China and Japan
The origins of the current conflict between China and Japan date to the late
nineteenth century. From 1894 to 1895, China, under the leadership of the Imperial
Qing dynasty, was invaded by Japan, leading to the First Sino-Japanese War. However,
at that time, the Qing dynasty was on the edge of collapse, so the modernized armed
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
forces of Japan proved to be no match for China. This forced China to lose its territory
of Taiwan and to grant independence to Korea.
In 1912, the Republic of China was officially founded, ending the failing Qing
Dynasty. Although this event seemingly meant an end to a chaotic state of affairs in
China, the new republic proved to be less organized than its predecessors. Control over
China had fallen into the hands of warlords who could not consolidate power due to
fighting amongst themselves. This warlord era made China chaotic and unable to unify.
The most prominent warlord was Zhang Zuolin who had control of Northern China, and
eventually Beijing.
May Fourth Movement
In 1915, Japan, claiming its title as a world leader, filed a document known as the
Twenty-One Demands to further their interests in Chinese resources and lands. These
claims pressured China to grant another 99 years on the lease stating that Japan had
control of the province of Guangdong, and also gave Japan access to Chinese
resources in Manchuria. Then, after World War I, Japan received former German
colonies around China in the Treaty of Versailles, the treaty that ended World War I.
This sparked outrage among Chinese civilians who believed that the colonies should
belong to them.
The Chinese government did little to stop Japan from claiming territory in China.
The public’s outrage with their government’s weak response to the treaty led to The
May Fourth Movement on May 4th, 1919. The movement, made up of student
protesters, targeted China’s weak response to the Treaty of Versailles and the
Japanese threat. Protesters wished to stop foreign extraterritoriality, reject the
Twenty-One Demands, create a student union in Beijing, and protest the Treaty of
Versailles. This protest was violent on both sides, and many workers went on strike
which nearly devastated the economy. The revolution was somewhat successful as
three politicians seen as sympathetic to the Japanese resigned and China did not sign a
peace treaty with Germany. The lack of a treaty turned out not to matter, as Japan still
received the territories. The May Fourth Movement led to an increasingly intense
political scene in China. The traditional Chinese Confucian values were slowly
diminishing in status, and issues such as education and women’s rights issues became
more prominent.
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
The First United Front
During the early 20th century, China was simultaneously plagued by internal
conflict. The Nationalist Kuomintang Party (KMT) was founded by Song Jiaoren and
Sun Yat-Sen on August 25th, 1912, following the Xinhai Revolution, which brought an
end to the Qing Dynasty. Sun Yat-sen, who had been engaging in revolutionary
activities since 1895, led the party to gaining a majority in the first National Assembly.
The President at the time, Yuan Shikai, had been using violence to threaten his
opponents, and ended the democratic assembly, but his poorly-planned plot failed,
leading to his exile as well as the dissolution of the KMT. Yuan Shikai then proclaimed
himself emperor in 1915, but died in 1916, leading China into what is known as the
“Warlord Period.” In 1917, Sun returned from exile and re-formed the KMT on October
10, 1919.
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
The Communist Party of China (CPC) was founded on July 1, 1921. Communist
ideas had been circulating through China since the May Fourth Movement, leading ​Li
Dazhao and Chen Duxiu, two prominent Chinese revolutionaries who had been affected
by the May Fourth Movement as well as the Russian Revolution of 1917, to found the
CPC. At first, party members simply helped to form unions. These unions then grew in
popularity, expanding the influence of the party. In 1922, the CPC consisted of
approximately 300 members, but in just three years, the party grew to include over 1500
members. The CPC eventually gained sufficient support, and would begin its rise as
one of the notable Chinese political parties.
In 1924, the CPC united with the KMT, forming the First United Front in order to
fight Chinese warlords. Just a year earlier, Sun Yat-Sen met with Adolph Joffe, a
representative from the Soviet Union, and they signed a joint statement. The statement,
which is known as the “Sun-Joffe Manifesto”, proclaimed that the Soviet Union
supported a unified China, and set a basis for the cooperation between the Soviets and
the KMT. Sun then agreed to establish a United Front (the First United Front) between
the CPC and the KMT in 1924. The communists would be given a position in the KMT,
while retaining their memberships in the CPC. In return, the Soviet Union would aid the
KMT militarily and politically. The United Front lasted for a year, but tensions began to
rise between the two parties shortly after Sun’s death in 1925.
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Northern Expedition and Civil War
From 1926 to 1928, Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek launched a military
campaign known as the “Northern Expedition” to rid China of the warlords and the
Beiyang Government (the official government of China, from 1912 to 1927). Alongside
the KMT, members of the CPC also participated in the fight. Meanwhile, Japan and
China continued to have tensions as the main principles of the Kuomintang operated on
nationalism, which discouraged foreign influence.
The KMT, working alongside the Soviet Union and the CPC, began the Northern
Expeditions in the Guangdong Province and planned to overthrow the three warlords
named Sun, Wu, and Zhang. At this point, the KMT’s National Revolutionary Army
(NRA) had achieved many successes against the warlords. However, Chiang Kai-shek
soon incited conflicts between nationalists and communists. One such conflict, the
Shanghai Massacre of 1927, led to the capture and killing of thousands of communists.
As a result, the KMT split into two groups: the Nanjing Government, made up of those
who supported purging communists, and the Wuhan Government, made up of those
who supported cooperation with the CPC. In 1927, while this division was taking place,
the warlords were strengthening their armies. They ultimately attacked the unorganized
and surprised NRA and drove them back towards the Yangtze. Chiang Kai-shek refused
to retreat and pushed forward again, leading to another loss. He resigned after this, and
the new leaders of the KMT retreated. Kai-shek would soon be reinstated as the KMT
leader, however.
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Meanwhile, Li Zongren, a leader of the Nanjing Government, attempted to settle
the differences between the Wuhan Government and the Nanjing Government. The
Wuhan agreed to work with him even after some Wuhan supporters attacked Li’s
warship. Despite this, a purge of Wuhan Communists was ordered by Wang Jingwei,
another Nanjing leader who had contributed to the original KMT split.
In the latter half of 1927, the CPC retreated to the countrysides of China, where it
attempted to stage a military coup. On August 1, 1927, the Nanchang Uprising officially
began, starting the Ten Year’s Civil War between the KMT and CPC. The communist
forces teamed up with peasant rebels, and began to exercise control in the Southern
parts of China. As a result, the KMT united and worked to suppress these rebellions.
While the Civil War raged on, the KMT took control of China while continuing to
suppress the communists.
The Second United Front
Ultimately, the Civil War between the CPC and the KMT raged until the Xi’an
Incident, during which Chiang Kai-shek, who had been serving as the leader of China
during the decade of Civil War, was captured by a warlord who was concerned about a
Japanese invasion, leading to the two parties finally coming together as the Second
United Front in an attempt to stop a Japanese invasion.
In 1931, Japan conquered the resource-rich lands in Manchuria, an area which
includes part of Northeast China and Mongolia, in the “Mukden Incident”. Following this,
China approached the League of Nations, an international organization formed following
World War I to preserve global peace, to stop the Japanese. However, this only led to
Japan becoming further aggravated and leaving the League. By the latter half of the
1930’s, Japan had conquered most of the northern lands of China, using Manchuria as
its base. Eventually, in 1937, the Chinese launched full-scale war on the Japanese
following the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, when Japan seized the Marco Polo Bridge in
China. Neither country would compromise, and this would lead to a full-scale Japanese
invasion.
Current Situation
The year is now 1938. It has been a year since Japan attacked China. Japan left
many towns destroyed and created chaos and terror amongst the Chinese people. This
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
committee, made up of delegates representing members of the KMT and CPC, must
decide what the future of China holds and how the nation will address its issues to
prevent it from descending into turmoil yet again. The committee will meet in Beijing, the
cultural capital of China. The war with Japan has drifted into a stalemate, with China
quickly regaining possession of captured cities. Meanwhile, the Second United Front,
the alliance between the CPC and KMT, is dissipating. The KMT and CPC must
simultaneously decide how best to maintain this fragile alliance during a time of chaos
while dealing with international affairs, including threats being made by Japan. China
must find a way to maintain internal peace during an incredibly tense time while
defending itself from Japan, a powerful nation looking to regain Chinese territory that it
had previously captured. Delegates will have to put their differences aside to ensure
that this happens, or else the state of China will surely descend into sheer chaos.
Blocs
Communists
The communist delegates in this committee are mostly members of the CPC.
The party formed after the May Fourth Movement. Its members believe in a command
economy, which is when the government owns major businesses. Its members also
believe that there should not be social classes. The CPC also oppose the Japanese
invasion. They have a historically tense relationship with the KMT due to the KMT’s
purges and opposition to communist principles.
Mao Zedong
● First Chairman of the Communist Party and founder of Communist Party in China
○ Develops strategies for CPC forces
○ Develops strategies for spreading the communist message and gaining
support
○ Commands communist forces
Deng Xiaoping
● Important leader of the Communist Party and member of the Eight Elders, a
group of longtime Communist leaders
○ Develops strategies for CPC forces
○ Commands the Eighth Route Army
Su Yu
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
● Commander of the Communist Army during the Civil War and the Second
Sino-Japanese War
○ Commands guerilla forces
○ Develops strategies for CPC forces
Liu Shaoqi
● Mao Zedong’s Second in Command until he turned against Mao’s policies
○ Develops strategies for spreading the communist message and gaining
support
○ Creates policy with other members of the politburo
Zhou Enlai
● First Premier of the Communist Party and constructor of foreign policy
○ Negotiates with KMT leaders
○ Works to gain party support throughout China
Chen Yun
● Longtime party leader and member of the Eight Elders
○ Creates policy with other members of the Politburo
○ Develops military strategy for CPC forces
Liu Bocheng
● A Marshal of the Communists and an important strategist
○ Develops military strategy for CPC forces
○ Commands Chinese Red Army forces
Peng Dehuai
● Communist Defense Minister
○ Commands CPC forces
○ Creates policy with other members of the Politburo
Ye Jianying
● Serves as a General andMarshal
○ Develops military strategy for CPC forces
○ Commands CPC forces
Zhu De
● Started as a warlord and became a key member of the Communist Party
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○ Develops strategies for spreading the communist message and gaining
support
○ Develops military strategy for CPC forces
Nationalists
The Nationalist delegates in this committee primarily consist of members of the
KMT. They believe that China should be free of foreign influence, and strongly oppose
communism. They have tense relationships with the communists, and believe that
China must be united in order to succeed.
Li Zongren
● Guangxi Warlord and KMT military commander
○ Has military power over NRA
○ Given ability to make some political decisions
Chiang Kai-shek
● Political and military leader of KMT
○ Makes most of KMT’s political decisions
○ Manages communication between KMT and others
○ Manages party affairs within the KMT
Kung Hsiang-hsi
● President of Chinese Government since 1938
○ Makes many of KMT’s political decisions
○ Directs economic and political operations
Wang Jingwei
● Head of Wuhan Government a decade earlier
○ Communicates with outside forces
○ Manages left wing of the KMT
Sun Liren
● Prominent KMT military general
○ Manages/assists military
○ Makes military decisions
Yan Xishan
● Chinese warlord
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○ Communicates with outside political entities
○ Manages political and domestic affairs
Du Yuming
● KMT military general
○ Facilitates military operations
○ Manages military and political affairs in China
Bai Chongxi
● Prominent general for the KMT and political leader
○ Facilitates communications between the KMT party
○ Communicates with outside forces
○ Assists in making military decisions
Soong Mei-ling
● Second wife of Chiang Kai Shek
○ Makes many political decisions
○ Assists with communication within KMT
Questions for Delegates to Consider
1. Should the Second United Front still be used to govern China?
a. If not, who should govern China, and how will it be governed?
2. How will internal issues between the KMT and CPC be addressed?
3. How will the Japanese threat be addressed?
4. Does the committee wish to involve itself in conflict that extend beyond its
borders?
5. What international partnerships might the committee want to forge?
6. How will this committee keep the Chinese population satisfied? How might
protests and/or revolts be addressed?
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China in Chaos: The Second Sino-Japanese War
Further Reading
Although this background guide is a great starting point for research, additional
investigation is necessary for further understanding of the committee and the topics to
be discussed. Below are a few sources to help delegates begin this process. That being
said, delegates are strongly encouraged to look for sources beyond those listed here,
especially when researching topics specific to particular positions. Taking these actions
will ensure a successful committee experience for all delegates.
Bibliography
Cavendish, By Richard. "The Marco Polo Bridge Incident." ​History Today. N.p., n.d.
Web. 24 Sept. 2016.
http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/marco-polo-bridge-incident
"Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party of China, General Information of CPC."
Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party of China, General Information of
CPC. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2016.
http://www.chinatoday.com/org/cpc/
JabzyJoe. "Chinese Civil War | 3 Minute History." ​YouTube. YouTube, 12 Apr. 2015.
Web. 30 Aug. 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7dvRkyhAkY
Project MUSE - The Communist Party of China and Ideology. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept.
2016.
http://muse.jhu.edu/article/482924/pdf
"The Fractured Alliance." ​The Fractured Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2016.
http://bhoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/HST265/13.FracturedAlliance.html
Images From:
http://www.oldpicz.com/second-sino-japanese-war-1937/
http://xenohistorian.faithweb.com/china/ch06.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_March
http://www.burdosclassroom.org/worldhistorywiki/index.php?title=Chinese_Revolution
http://xenohistorian.faithweb.com/china/ch06.html
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