Chinese Nationalist Party, Chinese Civil War
Background Guide
Wheeler Model United Nations Conference (WMUNC)
General Assembly- Social and Humanitarian (SOCHUM)
October 2016
Introduction
The Chinese Civil War Committee is a dual crisis orchestrated to simulate the two factions of the
Chinese Civil War of 1927-50. The two committees, Nationalist and Communist, meet
separately and take action against one another via a process of decrees and directives. Each
committee will strategize and form policies to defeat the other, while also responding to outside
threats such as invasion by Japan. In the end the policies of each committee will affect the fate of
both, and determine which force and what policies govern China through the end of the twentieth
century.
Format
The default mode of communication for this committee will be a moderated caucus. There will
be no speaker’s list. Delegates may motion to introduce a new moderated caucus over the default
debate with topic, total time, and individual speaking time. Delegates may also motion for an
unmoderated caucus in order to discuss draft directives.
Documents produced by this committee take the form of directives, short statements of policy
that take the same form as a normal UN Resolution, with a few stipulations. Directives must
contain three or more pre-ambulatory clauses, and operative clauses must include at least one
statement of policy, rather than merely a set of opinions to be adopted by the committee. For
example, a directive may include several “opinion” operative clauses, e.g. “[The Communist
Party] 1. Affirms the right of all Communists to freedom from oppressive landlords, 2.
Condemns the atrocities committed by the Nationalist oppressor,” but must also include at least
one “action” operative clause “3. Designates the act of harboring Nationalist soldiers a crime
punishable by death.”
Background
For nearly three hundred years leading up to 1912 China was ruled by the Qing Dynasty.
Towards the start of the 20th century, this dynasty was weakened by famine and rebellion
throughout China, including the Boxer Rebellion marking the turn of the century from
1899-1901. Finally the Xinhai Revolution brought an end to the Qing Dynasty once and for all,
establishing the Republic of China on January 1st, 1912. This was brought to fruition because of
civil discomfort with the dynasty because of its inability to modernize, industrialize, or confront
foreign aggression. This change was also motivated by uncomfortable race relations of the
people against the ruling Manchu minority.
Sun Yat-Sen, who was one leaders of the Kuomintang that lead the Xinhai revolution was
named the provisional president. He was revered and was an important ideological figure for the
Nationalist party. Later, this position was given to Yuan Shikai who proceeded to declare
himself emperor in 1915.
Shikai’s death in 1916 then left China politically fragmented, and local military leaders or
warlords took power throughout the country. The Beijing based government was left with no real
power or respect and these warlords controlled most of the Chinese territory. The country is not
reunified until the 1920’s after Sun Yat-sen’s death by Chiang Kai- Shek.
From 1922 to 1924 the Nationalists in the Kuomintang tried to work together with the
Chinese Communist Party to unify China and suppress the warlords that had been terrifying the
country. Together they formed a national army called the First United Front. In 1924 Sun YatSen died before the unification negotiations were passed. One year later, the prominent
Kuomintang leader and instrumental figure in the formation of the First United Front, Liao
Zhongkai was assassinated, leaving Jiang Jieshi and Wang Jingwei vie for the leadership of the
Kuomintang. Jiang Jieshi eventually took over the Nationalist party.
In 1925 the Kuomintang formed the National Revolutionary Army. Two years later
British and American ships opened fire on Nanjing and Jiang Jieshi blamed the attack of the
Communist Party of China, directing the hostility at the communists. He used this to gain
financial support to sever ties with the Chinese Communist Party. Within 11 days the
Kuomintang determined that communists are trying to take over the Nationalist Party and Jiang
Jieshi ordered a series of raids, arrests and executions in Shanghai. (The Shanghai Massacre)
Wang Jingwei ​attempted to take control of the party by expelling Jiang Jieshi. However, he was
unsuccessful and failed. Jieshi then officially declared himself chairman of National Government
Committee and President of China. On August first of 1927 the Communist Party of China’s
forces tried to take control of the Kuomintang which marked the beginning of The Ten Year’s
Civil War. In the following four years, five campaigns were launched by the Kuomintang to try
and take down the Communist Party of China. The communists then embarked on The Long
March in 1934 resulting in Mao Zedong becoming the leader of the communist party. The
Nationalists and Communists continued to battle until the communists claimed victory in 1946.
Characters
Hu Hanmin​ - son of Chinese official; he understands how the government works.
Participated in several rebellions (violent) and later became the governor of Guangdong Province
in Southern China. Also worked in the Provisional government that was established after Xinhai
Revolution in 1911. Was the leader of the legislature in Nanjing until Chiang placed him under
house arrest because of a disagreement over the new Constitution. Later Chiang is pressured into
freeing Hu and Hu starts a rival anti-communist government in Guangzhou, (Southern China).
As of 1934 he was very critical of Chiang's government and its corruption. ​Goals​: Wants to rid
China of corruption. Wants a strong foreign policy to prevent Imperial Japan from attacking
China.
He Yingqin​- Military Leader
Intelligent army leader. Proved himself in winning battles against warlords in parts of China that
had not yet been incorporated by the government. After Shanghai Massacre, he continued to
support the Nationalists and Chiang. Chiang thus likes him too. Had success in battles against the
Chinese communists in the Second Encirclement Campaign (a campaign against Chinese
communists). ​Goals: ​Defeat the Communists. Do not worry too much about Japan; he was
against fighting them at the expense of defeating the Communists
Dai Li​ - Chief of the Nationalists’ Army secret service. Became head of the Nationalists’
secret police and was one of the most powerful men in China. Commanded 70,000 men whom he
used to conduct spying operations across China. ​Goals: ​Lead the Nationalists to victory through
espionage and blackmail.
​Chen Lifu​ Anti-communist, Nationalist politcian. One of Chaing's confidants. Received
a degree in engineering (mining) from an American University. Chen commanded a powerful
influence within the party. He and his brother founded the CC Clique, a powerful group of
Nationalist Leaders who controlled the party and army. ​Goals: ​Lead the Nationalists to victory.
T’ang Leang-Li
Very intelligent Nationalist who was chief of the Communications Office to Europe, in essence
the spokesman for the Nationalists to the Western world. Fluent in English, he can be the
mouthpiece to Westerners afraid of a Communist takeover. He is also very concerned about the
Nationalists’ global image and wishes to avoid taking actions that would damage their
reputation. ​Goals: ​Wants to obtain aid from Westerners in order to fight off the Communists in
addition to the Japanese, who are looming on the horizon by presenting a polished and unified
Nationalist Government.
Liao Zhongkai (assassinated in 1925 before a Kuomintang Executive Committee
Meeting): ​A very prominent leader and financier. One of the founders of the the Guomindang.
Has vast political experience. In 1905 joined the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance in 1905 and
became the director of the financial bureau after founding of Republic of China. From 1923 to
1924 served as the Civil governor of Guangdong and was later appointed to the Kuomintang
Executive Committee. ​Goals: ​continued to belief in Sun Yat Sen's policy after he died (Believed
in keeping close relations with the Soviet Union and the Communist Party).
Wang Jingwei​: A Chinese politician that was initially a member of the left wing of the
Kuomintang (KMT), but became anti communists. He tried to collaborate with the Chinese
Communist Party (CCP), but was very opposed to communism after the unsuccessful
collaboration. Very close to Sun Yat Sen and after Sun Yat Sen died, both he and Chiang
Kai-Shek vied for the control of the KMT, but lost. Continued to have political disagreements
with Chiang Kai-Shek. ​Goals:​ Nationalist victory whilst opposing Chiang Kai-Shek
Du Yuming: ​Kuomintnang field commander. Took part in Chiang’s Northern
Expedition. Graduate of the Whampoa Academy. Chiang's protége. Provides the committee with
a voice of a soldier and commander. Will agree firmly with Chiang. ​Goals: ​Nationalist Victory​.
Zhang Zuolin:​ Pro nationalist warlord that executed Li Dazhou a founding member of
CCP on April 28th, was a warlord. ​Goals: ​Nationalist Victory​.
Zhang Renjie
Li Shizeng
Wu Zhihui
Works Cited:
Http://facebook.com/alphahistory. "Chinese Revolution Timeline 1912 to 1927." ​Chinese Revolution.
N.p., 16 Oct. 2015. Web. 08 Oct. 2016.
"Chronology of Civil War in China." ​Datesofhistory.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2016.
Li, Xiaobing. ​China at War: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2012. Print.
"China." ​Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2016.