Fifth Mock Debate: UNSC Study Guide

Istanbul University Model United Nations Club

Fifth Mock Debate: UNSC

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Committee

1.1. UNSC anc Topic

1.2. Rules of Procedure Regarding UNSC

2. Historical Background

2.1. Chinese Civil War

2.2. The Early Years of Cross-Strait Relations and The First Two Strait Crises

2.3. Taiwan’s Isolation and the PRC’s Rise

2.4. Current Situation

3. References

1. Introduction to committee

1.1. UNSC and Topic

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is responsible for maintaining international peace and security. It has the authority to issue resolutions, deploy peacekeeping forces, and mediate conflicts between nations. The Taiwan Strait Crisis is a geopolitical flashpoint involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (Taiwan), with major international actors like the United States, Japan, and ASEAN nations playing significant roles. The crisis involves territorial disputes, military escalation, diplomatic conflicts, and global economic repercussions. This mock debate will focus on the potential for military conflict, diplomatic solutions, and the role of the UN in addressing the crisis. Delegates must work to find peaceful solutions while considering the interests of all stakeholders.

1.2. Rules of Procedure Regarding UNSC

Although almost all of the General Assembly Rules also apply to the UNSC, the committee has some of its special procedures regarding the flow of the debate. Important rules that governs the procedure goes by: UNSC exclusive motions

Motion to have a party of dispute: Raised if delegates want to have a discussion with a particular party. Invited party can be almost anyone; diplomats, UN officials, an expert, or even a terrorist group's representative. The invited party has the right to decline the invitation.

Motion to Declare a Substantive Voting: This motion can only be raised by a member of P5 (UK, USA, PRC, Russian Federation, France). The purpose of this motion is to turn a procedural voting into a substantive voting, which would give P5 members the right of veto.

Motion to have a P5 Meeting: This motion can only be raised by a P5 member and only those states can state whether they're in favor of it. The delegate who raises the motion should specify the total time. It's used when P5 wants to have a private discussion.

If all P5 states approve the motion, they leave the house accompanied by one of the chairs.

Key Words

Permanent Members: Permanent members of the UNSC hold permanent seats in the Security Council, having special powers like the veto power. These states are; the United States, United Kingdom, France, China and Russia.

Non-permanent Members: Non-permanent members are rotating members, elected for two-year terms.

Observers: Observers are not official members of the Security Council. Observers are generally included in the committee when the agenda item is highly relevant to some states, therefore making their presence is needed. Observers don't have the right to vote on substantive matters.

Substantive Voting: Substantive votings are made on substantive matters like the draft resolution. If a P5 member votes in against during a substantive voting, it's considered as a veto and the voting automatically results in failing.

Procedural Voting: Most of the votings are considered as procedural unless a motion to declare a substantive voting passes. For example, voting on a motion is a procedural voting. P5 members don't have the right to veto a procedural voting.

Quorum: Quorum is the minimum number of members required to be present at the beginning of the session for committee to start the official session.

In the UNSC; besides having the requirement of having 1/4 members present, all P5 members must be present for the official session to start.

2. Background on the Taiwan Strait Crisis

2.1. Chinese Civil War

The Chinese Civil War was a protracted and bloody conflict between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), led by Mao Zedong, and the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, KMT), led by Chiang Kai-shek. Initially, the two factions cooperated against foreign imperialist powers and warlords in China, but ideological differences led to their eventual separation and armed confrontation.

The first phase of the civil war began in 1927, when Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the KMT, launched a military campaign against the CCP in what became known as the Shanghai Massacre. This event led to an all-out war between the two factions, with the KMT establishing control over much of China while the CCP retreated into rural areas and adopted guerrilla warfare tactics.

During World War II (1937-1945), both the CCP and the KMT temporarily united against Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War. However, deep distrust remained between the two sides, and as soon as Japan was defeated in 1945, the civil war resumed with renewed intensity. With massive Soviet support, the CCP gained momentum, capturing Manchuria, major cities, and strategic territories across China. In 1949, after a series of devastating defeats, the KMT government collapsed, and Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan along with two million Nationalist supporters, military personnel, and government officials.

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong declared the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing, marking the official victory of the Communist forces. The KMT government, now based in Taipei, continued to claim sovereignty over all of China, insisting that the ROC was the legitimate Chinese government.

This created a long-standing political dispute: the PRC viewed Taiwan as a breakaway province that needed to be reunified with the mainland, while the ROC considered itself the legitimate ruler of all of China, including the mainland.

2.2. The Early Years of Cross-Strait Relations and The First Two Strait Crises

Following the end of the civil war, the PRC sought to invade Taiwan and complete the reunification of China. However, two major factors prevented this: First Taiwan’s strong military defenses, reinforced by remnants of the KMT army and a well-fortified coastline and second being the U.S. intervention, which aimed to prevent Communist expansion in East Asia, especially after the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950.

The First Taiwan Strait Crisis (1954-1955)

The first major military confrontation over Taiwan occurred between 1954 and 1955, when the PRC launched an aggressive military campaign against the Taiwanese-controlled offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu. The PRC began an intense artillery bombardment of these islands, intending to weaken Taiwan’s strategic defenses and force the ROC government into submission.

In response, the United States signed the U.S.-Taiwan Mutual Defense Treaty in 1954, officially committing to Taiwan’s military protection. The U.S. deployed naval forces, including aircraft carriers, to deter a potential Chinese invasion. The crisis ended in 1955, when China ceased its bombardments, but tensions remained unresolved.

The Second Taiwan Strait Crisis (1958)

A few years later, in 1958, another major military escalation occurred. The PRC, once again, resumed heavy shelling of Kinmen and Matsu, hoping to drive out Taiwanese forces and demonstrate China’s military strength. Taiwan, with U.S. assistance, successfully defended its territories, and after a prolonged standoff, China withdrew its forces.

During this period, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to Taiwan’s defense, warning that any attack on Taiwan itself would be met with a direct military response. However, as the Cold War progressed, the international diplomatic situation surrounding Taiwan began to shift.

2.3. Taiwan’s Isolation and the PRC’s Rise

In the 1960s and 1970s, China sought to strengthen its diplomatic influence and undermine Taiwan’s international legitimacy. The PRC successfully pressured other nations to recognize it as the sole representative of China, resulting in Taiwan’s growing diplomatic isolation.

The most significant diplomatic shift occurred in 1971, when the United Nations General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, officially recognizing the PRC as the legitimate government of China and expelling the ROC from the UN. This meant that Taiwan lost its seat at the United Nations and most of its formal diplomatic recognition worldwide.

Further reinforcing this shift, the United States, under President Richard Nixon, began normalizing relations with China, culminating in the 1979 U.S.-China Joint Communiqué. The U.S. formally switched its recognition from the ROC to the PRC and ended its official defense treaty with Taiwan.

However, the U.S. did not abandon Taiwan entirely. In 1979, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which maintained strong unofficial ties between the U.S. and Taiwan. The TRA also committed the U.S. to providing Taiwan with defensive weapons and stated that any attempt to change Taiwan’s status by force would be a "grave concern" to Washington.

2.4. Third Taiwan Strait Crisis

After decades of tension, the third and most dangerous Taiwan Strait Crisis erupted in 1995-1996. The crisis was triggered by Taiwan’s first democratic presidential election in 1996, which China viewed as a move toward formal independence.

In response, China launched a series of missile tests and military exercises near Taiwan’s coastline as a direct threat to Taiwanese voters. This aggressive action prompted the United States to intervene, sending two aircraft carrier battle groups to the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. military presence forced China to back down, de-escalating the crisis. However, the event demonstrated that Taiwan’s democratic evolution and growing pro-independence sentiment would continue to be a red line for Beijing.

2.5. Current Situation

Since the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, tensions have remained high but manageable, with periodic military provocations from China. However, in recent years, particularly since 2022, tensions have significantly escalated due to some important actions such as:

Increased Chinese military activity, including record-breaking incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).
High-profile U.S. diplomatic visits to Taiwan, which China views as a violation of the One-China Policy.
Strengthening U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation, including advanced arms sales and joint training exercises.

However, with the Trump Administration's tariffs, there is a significant indicator that soon the US can withdraw and leave Taiwan to its fate since China has vowed to reunify Taiwan. The situation remains highly volatile, making the Taiwan Strait one of the most dangerous flashpoints in global politics today.

3. References

Bush, R., & O'Hanlon, M. (2007). A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America. Wiley.
Kissinger, H. (2011). On China. Penguin Press.
Sutter, R. (2013). U.S.-China Relations: Perilous Past, Pragmatic Present. Rowman & Littlefield.
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (1971).
BBC News. (2023). "Taiwan and China: A History of Tensions."

Written by

Umut Işık Usluyer

Rana Ece Alper