Michigan State University Model United Nations

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1 Michigan State University Model United Nations Session XVIII April Asia Cooperation Dialogue Background Guide Chair: Hanna Foreman Assistant Chairs: Anna Lin, Ashley Vassallo, and Perry Truscon

2 Dear Delegates, Michigan State University Model United Nations Session XVIII On behalf of all MSUMUN staff, I am so pleased to welcome you to MSUMUN XVIII! My name is Hanna Foreman, and I have the pleasure of serving as your chair for the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. I was born in New York, but have spent the majority of my life moving around the world living in Taipei, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. I am a sophomore majoring in International Relations in James Madison College with minors in Asian studies and Korean. Although most of my studies focus on foreign policy analysis, I am passionate about a wide range of international issues, especially issues on cooperation. Last summer, I interned at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas, where I helped create education programs for students on the Clinton administration s key thematic approach to foreign policy: international cooperation, inspiring the overarching theme of this committee. This is my second year in MSUMUN after serving as an Assistant Crisis Director in Project National Glory last year, and my first year as a Chair. I am also an active member of the International Relations Organization, MSU s competitive Model United Nations team, with which I have had the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia, Montreal, New York, and Chicago. When I m not studying or obsessing over all things Model United Nations, I enjoy eating food, reading the news, traveling, and exploring East Lansing. Allow me to introduce the other members of the dais, my awesome Assistant Chairs! Anna Lin is a sophomore from Hartland, Michigan. Anna is majoring in International Relations in James Madison College with minors in Spanish, Asian Studies, Asian Pacific American Studies and European Studies. Anna was a part of MSUMUN as an Assistant Chair for UNICEF last year. Aside from doing school work, she likes to be active on campus with various organizations and enjoy time with her friends and family. Ashley Vassallo is a freshman from Northville, Michigan. She will be majoring in International Relations and a minoring in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy as well as Political Economy within James Madison College. This is Ashley s first year doing MSUMUN. Outside of school, Ashley also participates in the International Relations Organization, the competitive Model UN team at Michigan State, and in in her free time enjoys watching Netflix, exploring East Lansing, and listening to music. Perry Truscon is a freshman from Marquette, Michigan. He will be majoring in International Relations and Economics with a minor in Science, Technology, Environment and Public Policy. Perry has done Model UN for one year but has never hosted a MUN conference before. Perry enjoys bike rides, playing cello, and listening to music. He is an avid hiker and enjoys the scenery of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He commonly has disagreements with his friends on the way things are pronounced, but enjoys spending times with his friends anyways. MSUMUN XVIII 2

3 As delegates in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue at MSUMUN XVIII, you will have the unique opportunity to represent foreign ministers of various countries in Asia and the Pacific. All delegates will have various competing interests and solutions to tackle the issues of Asia today. Therefore, you are not only encouraged, but expected to collaborate. The Expansion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Next Steps of the Paris Agreement, and Defining Citizenship in Asia are all extremely important and relevant in Asia in the present day and there are a multitude of approaches to tackle these issues. This background guide will briefly introduce each of the topics, but self-directed research, an advanced understanding of your national policies, and critical thinking are necessary to succeed in this committee. Finally, delegates are expected to maintain a high level of decorum and respect for other delegates throughout the duration of the committee session. Please feel free to me at specialized1@msumun.org if you have any questions or concerns. I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to meeting you in April! Sincerely, Hanna Foreman Chair Asia Cooperation Dialogue MSUMUN XVIII 3

4 Topic I: The Expansion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Introduction The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is an agreement between twelve countries: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam, (see figure 1, below) aimed to strengthen bonds between the nations by reducing taxes and encouraging economic growth. The TPP means to set up a single market, much like the EU. The TPP focuses on free trade (international trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions) and tariff (a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports) reduction. The TPP also sets out rules among participating countries in a variety of industries, Including labor, environmental laws, and intellectual property rights. Most goods and services traded between the countries are named in the TPP, but not all tariffs are going to be removed and some would take longer than others, allowing a gradual entrance into the agreement (Al Jazeera). The TPP originally aimed to tether the United States more closely to East Asia and to promote the economies of participants, capable of standing against an increasingly growing China. The 12 countries involved are responsible for 40% of the world s trade, yet without the USA the deal (in its current form) will fail as the criteria cannot be met, and the deal would have had to be ratified by February Some countries have suggested an alternative deal without the US, the objective of the ACD (Asia Cooperation Dialogue). MSUMUN XVIII 4

5 History Negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement began in 2008, and lasted until The parties involved were Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. The twelve countries signed off on the negotiations February 4, 2016, with the agreement that the treaty will enter into force after ratification by all signatories within two years. If not ratified by February 2018, it will come into effect after ratification by six states who collectively have a GDP greater than 85% of all the signatories. Negotiations for the TPP stemmed from the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, also known as the P4. The agreement unites Brunei, Chile, Singapore, and New Zealand, and the combined GDP of these states in $736 billion dollars. Negotiations for the agreement began in 2003, and the treaty entered into effect in The P4 agreement eliminated tariffs on a majority of goods traded between the members, promises to reduce technical barriers to trade, and fostered cooperation on wider issues including employment practices, intellectual property and economic competition policies between member countries. The agreement set the foundations for a more ambitious and complete trade agreement now known as the TPP. In January 2008 the United States, under the Obama administration, entered into negotiations with P4 countries to forge a more inclusive pact. The former president wanted to check China s growing power in both the regional and global sphere as well as assert United States global leadership. The United States were followed by the eight other pacific rim countries that make up the modern TPP coalition. Japan entered negotiations with the intent of stimulating the economy. Documents leaked in 2013 give insight to the negotiations, demonstrating that public concern was of little consideration through negotiations, and that there were disagreements between the United States and other parties regarding intellectual property, agricultural subsidies and financial services. These documents showcase the different factors that hampered the negotiations. Intellectual property was one main point of contestation between different countries. There were many concerns between nations about pharmaceutical and digital copyright. The United States had 19 points of disagreement regarding intellectual property alone. A component of the TPP, supported by all other nations, required limiting the liability of ISPs for copyright infringement by users was heavily contested by the United States. Another delay involved Japan s reluctance to open its agricultural and auto market, due to their desire to maintain tariffs on these products. The threat of nationalism that has hit many countries around the world was also a large factor the TPP debate (Figure 3, left). The TPP negotiations parallel the interests of large multinational corporations that have flourished in an age of globalization. This fosters a disconnect between working class citizens who feel threatened by the increasing rate of globalization. The TPP is joined by another trade agreement in Asia known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Similar to the TPP, the RCEP is also a global trade deal but it does not include the protection MSUMUN XVIII 5

6 of labor rights, human rights and the environment that are present in the TPP. The agreement includes countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other trading partners of these countries. Member states in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore Thailand and Vietnam along with countries that trade with ASEAN members include Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. The combined GDP of all countries involved in the RCEP is $21.3 trillion, and the member countries constitute 40% of world trade. Negotiations within RCEP include trade, investment, economic cooperation, intellectual property, competition, dispute settlement and e-commerce. Two concerns within RCEP involve agricultural policy. Japan and South Korea want universal adoption of Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (upov) in all member countries, which makes it illegal for farmers to save and replant seeds. Current Issues Following his inauguration, the new president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, signed the executive order to withdraw the US from the TPP negotiations. From an American point of view, the U.S. departure raises serious fundamental questions about America s economic and strategic interests in Asia. While on an international level it challenges the trade pact s regional credibility and stability of the agreement itself after the departure of its leading state. The main draw for the majority of the remaining signatory states when the trade agreement was signed was access to the American market because it accounts for 69% of the total GDP of the formerly 12-member bloc. This trade liberalization plan would have made it easier for manufacturers to sell goods internationally and give domestic markets increased access to foreign goods, saving each member state billions of dollars in tariffs and duties. Opponents of the trade pact, such as President Trump, have argued that if the demand for domestic goods falls, jobs would be sent abroad (Berlinger, 2017). With the US out of the picture, the TPP has lost its leading state and is irrelevant to the current signatory states in its current original form. However the remaining countries and their leaders are eagerly committed to revising the agreement (Berlinger, 2017). In July 2017, Japan took the lead in starting the negotiations talks with the remaining countries and how to move forward. As a collective, they want to focus on opening more markets to free trade in agricultural sector and digital services as well as the reduction of tariffs between the countries (Berlinger, 2017). The discussions contained talks regarding improving labor conditions and increasing protections on intellectual property and redefining environmental laws (Rich, 2017). However, all of these are easier said than done because the absence of the U.S. from the agreement will significantly reduce economic benefits as a result of participation in the trade pact (Berlinger, 2017). Before the states can move forward with improving policies, there is a clause within the pact that the remaining states need to address. Article 30.5 requires at least six countries who make up 85% of the combined GDP to ratify the TPP (Berlinger, 2017). Prior to the US leaving, the US and Japan s GDP would have ratified the TPP and put it into effect. However, at the current moment, Japan is the largest GDP contributor and needs remaining countries on the TPP to fulfill Article The passage of TPP is not impossible as four of the world s twenty largest economies - Japan, Canada, Australia and Mexico - and emerging economies, like Vietnam and Malaysia are still on board (Migeed, 2017). The remaining countries insist on maintaining the TPP with its current clauses just in case the US want to rejoin someday. These countries hope to achieve an agreement amongst themselves during the November 2017 summit meeting in Vietnam. MSUMUN XVIII 6

7 With the US out of the TPP and seriously decreasing its involvement in the region, an influence vacuum has been left behind in the region. Initially, Japan was hesitant to take the leadership role in the TPP because of the lack of access to the U.S. market, but this attitude has now changed. Shinzo Abe, the current Japanese Prime Minister, has realized that there is value in staying committed to the agreement. For one, the deal could still provide some economic gains to medium-sized markets, such as Australia and Vietnam, to revitalize the stagnating Japanese economy. Most importantly, the TPP provides Japan geopolitical leverage against China, a rising global power in the region. Currently, China leads the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which is another trade pact less stringent on many of the facets of the TPP, such as labor rights, human rights, and environmental regulations (Gramer, 2017). In recent years, China has also been spearheading initiatives, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative. With the TPP needing to fulfill Article 30.5, China is a likely candidate to join the TPP, but China has little interest in joining and many current TPP members have concerns on the possibility of Chinese membership in the pact. The standards set for the TPP are higher than China s overall standard in economic trade. By joining the TPP for China means, pushing China towards economic reforms in its markets (Rich, 2017). Current Positions Since its creation, the Trans - Pacific Partnership has left the door open for more increased membership and integration within the region. Historically, the United States took an active role in influencing global affairs. However, the American dwindling involvement in global affairs leaves room for rising regional powers, such as China, to take the lead in shaping the world order (Hsu). Currently, the Trans - Pacific Partnership consists of eleven signatories: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. Given the recent American withdrawal from the agreement, Japan has taken the lead in reviving the agreement without the United States. However, with China quickly emerging as an economic and military power in the region, other Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) states may see an opportunity to harness influence in strengthening other trade agreements in the region. This could be through working with other economically strong countries, such as Japan and India (Ayres), or ACD project leaders, such as Thailand. Overall, all member states of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue must find a way for their bloc to reach a consensus on how to unify Asia within the competitive global economic market. Given the diverse strengths of rising industries, national economies, foreign policy interests, human rights practices, and other factor, it poses a challenge to many ACD member states to open dialogue on various trade objectives and projects. Any state with ambitions to become a regional power in Asia must be cautious about other powers setting the foundations of continental trade regional-influence/ MSUMUN XVIII 7

8 without their input. Between the Japanese - led Trans - Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Chinese - led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), whichever agreement wins out must set clear goals, in terms of integration and cooperation beyond its original member states. If the TPP were to continue on with its 11 member states, ACD members and observers: Brunei, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Vietnam, will have an advantage over non-tpp states, such as China, India, and South Korea. However, if the Chinese - led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) wins out, Brunei, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam would have a seat at the negotiating table with the risk of being eclipsed by a dominating China (Jozuka). On one hand, many RCEP members, such as South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines have shown interest in joining TPP down the road when the circumstances are right. Regional powers, such as China, Russia, and India, have been weary of future membership to the TPP because membership may touch on sensitive issues that may undermine their political, social, and economic activities. As the ever-changing world order becomes more unpredictable with transitions in hegemony and challenges to globalization, ACD member states must come to a consensus on how to maintain economic stability. Conclusion The fate of the TPP is an extremely pressing issue, dealing with the direction of the Pacific Rim s economy. Lowering of taxes on imports and liberalizing trade, which is vital for international economic development of many small countries to have access to necessary resources found elsewhere. Many economists complained that it "serves the interests of the wealthiest," due to regulating non-tariff barriers that make business for large corporations costly, and economists complain an agreement such as the TPP would have alleviated this. However, renegotiating could bring about a change to this thought, proliferating trade at the lowest levels across the continent. The US was a large part of the deal, but leaving merely offers this body to draft its own version. Questions to Consider How can the TPP be expanded to be more inclusive towards other countries? What are the current shortcomings of the TPP? What are the current shortcomings of the RCEP? How should the TPP be improved to better trade and human rights opportunities for Asia? How realistic is the current framework of the TPP for the current day? What issues must be considered when it comes to creating a sustainable trade agreement? Works Cited Ayres, Alyssa. Where's India On The Trans-Pacific Partnership? Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 6 Oct Berlinger, Joshua. TPP Unravels: Where the 11 Other Countries Go from Here. CNN, Cable News Network, 24 Jan Eyeing the Expansion of the TPP: Too Soon? PIIE, 6 June MSUMUN XVIII 8

9 Fig. 3.Fulton, Deirdre. Anti-TPP Signs Seen at the Democratic National Convention in Common Dreams, Common Dreams, 23 Jan. 2017, Gramer, Robbie. Japan Wants to Revive the Trans Pacific Partnership Even Without the U.S. Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, 24 Apr Granville, Kevin. What Is TPP? Behind the Trade Deal That Died. The New York Times, The New York Times, 20 Aug. 2016, Hsu, Sara. China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. The Diplomat, The Diplomat, 14 Oct Jaishankar, Dhruva. What Trump s TPP Withdrawal Means for India. Brookings, Brookings, 17 Feb Jozuka, Emiko. TPP vs RCEP? Trade Deals Explained. CNN, Cable News Network, 26 Jan Fig. 1. Kucera, Barb. The Trans Pacific Partnership Free Trade Deal Would Involve Many Nations around the Pacific Rim. Workday Minnesota, 18 Oct. 2016, Staff, Al Jazeera. The Trans-Pacific Partnership in Perspective. News Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 4 Feb. 2016, Stiglitz, Joseph E. "On the Wrong Side of Globalization". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 March 2014, Fig. 4. Stuenkel, Oliver. 21 Aug Post - Western World, 21 Aug. 2015, Teresiński, Jan. What the Trans-Pacific Partnership Means for Russia. Russia Direct, 25 May Fig. 2. Thomas, Jason. Negotiating Representatives of TPP Member States Sit and Negotiate the Terms of the Agreement.. SBS, SBS, 28 July 2015, MSUMUN XVIII 9

10 Topic II: The Next Steps of the Paris Agreement Introduction The Paris Agreement is a triumph in terms of global solidarity towards combating climate change. Compared to previous treaties, such as the Copenhagen Accord and the Kyoto Protocol, the agreement includes an affluent United States, a rising China, and an industrializing India. It addresses the rising sea levels that pose as an existential threat to many Pacific island states. In addition, the agreement impacts foreign and domestic policies in that it sends a signal to businesses to invest in green technology, creating a bigger platform for unity on the issue. Currently, the agreement is signed by 196 countries with each country committing to ensure change and a brighter future for the planet (Meyer). The agreement itself addresses six thorny issues that each of the 195 countries had to address despite their own case-by-case limitations. Many of these issues challenged the notions of historical responsibility and future ambitions that add a more technical and financial dimension compared to past environmental agreements. It also acknowledges that the threat of climate change is urgent and potentially irreversible and emphasizes the needs for methods to combat the threat. Some of the provisions include limiting the rise in temperature to degrees (the global goal) on an annual basis, helping developing countries with transitioning to greener energy sources and reducing significantly emissions by 2020 (Domonoske). Although many signatory countries have signaled their commitment to the pact, one country, the United States, one of the largest CO2 emitters of the world, chose to withdrawal from the agreement altogether (Shear). This makes other countries question the validity of the agreement as well as how realistic and financially feasible it really is (Shear). History The UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) was a framework committee set up to combat climate change and promote environmental cooperation of countries, negotiated in The UNFCCC holds conferences known as COP (Conference of Parties.) The COP meets yearly and acts as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC Parties, of which there are currently 197 parties, including all of the UN states and its observers. The Paris Agreement is a landmark agreement formed by the UNFCCC, that combined 195 nations to combat climate change, based off of earlier documents such as the Kyoto Protocol (11 December 1997). Member states recognized that the Kyoto Protocol was not effective at mitigating the effects of climate change, and as a result, countries desired a more detailed agreement. The result was the Copenhagen Accord on 18 December This accord was a continuation of the Kyoto Protocol and underscored the necessity of the signatories to continue their work to end climate change. Criticism still exists however, as the Accord itself is not legally binding, and sets no targets to achieve in emissions reductions. Negotiations for the Paris Agreement started in 2011 at the COP17 (17th Conference of Parties), but the agreement was not signed until 22 April 2016, and became effective 4 November MSUMUN XVIII 10

11 The USA signed the agreement on 22 April 2016, yet on 1 June 2017, President Trump announced his plans to leave the agreement. However, under the rules of the agreement, the earliest any country can leave is Nov. 4, Countries legally may withdraw from the agreement up to three years after the agreement comes into force, which would be by Nov 4, Current Issues On October , the Paris Agreement was born after the minimum number of signatures needed to ratify the document was reached. The final Paris Agreement entered into effect on November , and as of today, 170 partied ratified the agreement (see Figure 1) The Paris Agreement stands out because it constitutes the largest multinational commitment to successfully unite countries in the effort to combat climate change and its effects. The pact also is also non - binding, which enables considerable sovereignty by providing flexibility for each country to set realistic goals for themselves. Despite the success of the Paris Agreement, it still poses many challenges that must be addressed by the committee. These challenges include concerns regarding how to implement policy disagreements over the provisions of the agreement (e.g. 2 degrees or financing the transition towards greener energy for developing countries), financing, and how to continue the agreement without the support of the United States. Concerns regarding successful implementation of the Paris Agreement include how to best implement the goals of the agreement at a local level. The Paris Agreement states that policy should be gender-responsive, participatory [RM1] and fully transparent, and take into consideration vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, as well as local and indigenous knowledge (Gill). This means that the Paris Agreement should take into account the impact of climate change on marginalized groups in the world, such as women in developing countries and indigenous populations. Challenges stem from the question of how to make policy relevant to local people, because the Paris Agreement is state based. MSUMUN XVIII 11

12 Another highly contested issue of the Paris Agreement is the requirement to cap global temperature growth at 2 degrees Celsius below pre-industrial levels. The number was challenged by countries that are more affected by climate change, especially island nations impacted by rising sea levels. These nations pushed for a goal to cap temperature growth at 1.5 degrees Celsius below pre-industrial levels. Many countries have set forth fair share goals under the agreement that outline how they plan to reduce emissions and adhere to the temperature cap set by the Paris Agreement. India s goal falls within the fair share range, Indonesia s goal is insufficient, and China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea all have highly insufficient goals that are not consistent with the Paris Agreement Standards (Climate Action Tracker). Another contested issue of the Paris agreement is financing. Richer countries are expected to provide funding to help developing countries afford the transition to clean energy. $100 Billion raised between wealthy countries is needed to achieve this lofty goal (Meyer). Concerns arise when defining what constitutes wealthy nations, and therefore who is expected to contribute. The current definition includes the United States, E.U nations, Canada and Japan, and China and India despite their reluctance to do so. The final concern involves the future of the Paris Agreement without the United States. Pulling out of the agreement raises concerns regarding whether or not the United States can continue to provide global leadership. Asia approaching economic growth with more positive views towards considering climate in the process. With the United States out of the picture, there is now an opportunity for Asian nations to provide climate change leadership while still facilitating economic growth (Tay). Considering all challenges facing the Paris Agreement is critical for the Committee's Success. Climate change has become an increasingly relevant issue facing Asia. One side effect of climate change is air pollution, especially in Eastern and Southeastern Asia. One critical problem facing Southeast Asia is the hazes. These fires are typically started when slash and burn farmers growing palm oil start a fire that goes out of control. The fires typically originate on Peatlands, where fire takes longer to burn enabling them to release more harmful smoke in larger quantities. In 2013, an wildfire that originated in Indonesia and spread to Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei. The smoke from these fires is potent, often making it dangerous to go outside. In 2013, cities in Southeast Asia shrouded with dense smoke were forced to shut down. Air pollution continues to be a problem throughout Asia. China is the world's largest emitter of Co2. In India, air pollution is the 5th leading cause of death. Both problems are facilitated by raising vehicle emission and industrial coal exhaust. Current Positions The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement further corroborates the trend of declining American involvement in the world. The levels of financing and the agreement s credibility are in question because the U.S. initially pledged 20% of contributions toward innovations in greener energy and emissions reductions. In addition, given that the U.S. is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the world, the departure of the U.S. may undermine the credibility of the accord because many of the commitments listed in the accord are not enough to prevent rising global temperatures given the need for lower cuts in emissions (Gowen and Denyer). From a more optimistic perspective, the departure of the U.S. should also be seen as an opportunity for other states to step up and take a leadership role for the sake of their interests and the rest of the world. India and China MSUMUN XVIII 12

13 have both taken steps to fill the leadership vacuum the United States has left behind on their own terms. Both have pledged to honor their commitments to the Paris Agreement and take a larger role in encouraging other states to follow their lead in working towards a greener future. In the case of India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has stated that failing to address climate change is a morally criminal act, while Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that further committing to the Paris Agreement is a responsibility for future generations. However, both countries also address their own issues when it comes to their economic development and growth in relation to environmental sustainability. Countries, such as Japan, that have been close allies with the United States also feel concerned about the state of the agreement without the involvement of the U.S (Gowen and Denyer). While the Paris Agreement opens up a leadership vacuum for some countries, other states in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, view the Paris Agreement as a method to ramp up investment on renewable projects. Many countries with a vast amount of natural resources in Southeast Asia, are in favor of constructing policy frameworks that are friendlier towards business, with the hope that more green innovation is key to cutting down emissions. This business friendly approach can benefit many countries economically and environmentally, as well as allow them to remain in line with the goals set forth by the Paris Agreement (Tjandra). Many Southeast Asian countries are vulnerable to climate change given their proximity to the Pacific and/or Indian ocean and see the Paris Agreement as a sign of hope. Air pollution is a major concern for many of these countries, which tends to spread to neighboring countries. Many ASEAN member states have seen the introduction of policies, such as setting fuel standards in the transportation sector, but more needs to be done to ensure a greener future ( Overall, all member states of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue are signatories of the Paris Agreement, but all member states must find a way for their bloc to reach a consensus on the next steps to take to ensure a greener future. Given the diverse strengths of rising industries, national economies, and foreign policy interests, sustainability and preserving the environment must be seen as a priority because it pertains to the economic and security interests of all states. ( Conclusion The Paris Agreement was a landmark agreement signed by the majority of the countries of the world. However with the departure of the United States from the agreement, it opens the door for other countries to take the lead in combating climate change. With the U.S. withdrawal from global affairs, regional powers, such as China, Japan, and India, have taken the lead in green energy and creating policies to jump start innovation. In addition, given the fact that many Asian countries are island nations, the Paris Agreement is seen as a step closer to preventing and/or slowing down the substantial risks for these nations. Questions to Consider How can the Paris Agreement be improved in order to slow down and/or reverse the effects of climate change in all Asian countries? What economic, social, and political opportunities does the Paris Agreement present to Asian countries? What reforms should be explored in order to combat the threat of climate change? MSUMUN XVIII 13

14 How will key industries be impacted by the provisions of the Paris Agreement? How will your country address them? What opportunities does the Paris Agreement present, in regard to innovation and technological advancement Works Cited Climate: What Is the Paris Agreement? Channel NewsAsia, 1 June 2017, Gill, Tom. How to Implement the Paris Agreement in Asia. SEI - Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm Environment Institute, 1 June 2017, Hare, Bill, et al. Rating Countries. Climate Action Tracker, 2017, climateactiontracker.org/countries.html. Hershberger, Matt. 6 Environmental Challenges Facing Southeast Asia. Matador Network, 16 Apr. 2014, matadornetwork.com/change/6-environmental-challenges-facing-southeast/. Meyer, Robinson. A Reader's Guide to the Paris Agreement. The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 16 Dec. 2015, Tay, Simon. Trump Letdown Needn't Harm Asia's Climate of Cooperation. South China Morning Post, South China Morning Post, 3 June 2017, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Status of Ratification. The Paris Agreement - Main Page, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 12 Oct. 2017, unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/948 Gowen, Annie, and Simon Denyer. As U.S. Backs Away from Climate Pledges, India and China Step Up. The Washington Post, WP Company, 1 June 2017, Tjandra, Grace. The Paris Agreement: Can Indonesia Be The Next Brazil? The Diplomat, The Diplomat, 22 Sept.2017, thediplomat.com/2017/09/the-paris-agreement-can-indonesia-be-the-next-brazil/. ( Deutsche Welle. What the Paris Climate Deal Means for Southeast Asia Asia DW DW.COM, MSUMUN XVIII 14

15 Fig. 1. Harrington, Rebecca and Gould, Skye. Countries That Joined the Paris Climate Agreement. Business Insider, Business Insider, 1 June 2017, Domonoske, Camila. So What Exactly Is In The Paris Climate Accord? NPR, NPR, 1 June Shear, Michael. Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement. The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 June 2017, Topic III: Defining Citizenship in Asia Introduction According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee or the UN Refugee Agency, a stateless person is a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law. Statelessness can occur at birth or during one s lifetime. There are many causes to statelessness, such as nationality laws and citizenship. Throughout Asia, there are numerous group of people who are considered stateless people. They include the Rohingya Muslims, Hmong people, Zainichi Koreans, Kurds, and many others. Many of these happened due to the groups not having any political boundary, historical events, and/or being displaced from their homes. Zainichi Koreans The Koreans living in Japan are known as Zainichi. Japan reckons the nationality by a person s parents nationality. Therefore, for the Koreans, they are classified as Japan-born but non-japanese nationality (Encyclopedia). Majority of the people hold Republic of Korea nationality. There are people who has marriage with Japanese, which allows their offspring to be considered Japanese nationality. While legally the offsprings have rights, many still face societal discrimination. Stateless Palestinians Present day Palestine includes territories in Israel and Jordan. While the Palestinians live in Israel and Jordan, they share same language, culture and religion (ISTD). There is the argument that Arabs of Palestinian have nothing different compared to the Palestinian in other Arab states (Margolis). Rohingya Muslims The Rohingya Muslims are an ethnic, Muslim minority group who have resided in Buddhist - majority Myanmar for centuries. Currently there are 1.1 Rohingya who live in Myanmar, even though they are considered as the world s most persecuted minority (Al Jazeera). The Rohingya people speak Rohingya or Ruaingga, a dialect distinct from the other languages spoken in the Rakhine state where they reside and the entirety of Myanmar. Under the eyes of the Burmese government, they are not considered an official ethnic group and are considered stateless because they have been continuously denied citizenship since 1982 (Al Jazeera). MSUMUN XVIII 15

16 Given that the Rohingya are not granted citizenship by the Burmese government, they are not allowed to leave Myanmar without governmental permission. That being said, many Rohingya continue to live in the western coastal Rakhine state, which is considered one of the poorest states in the country with ghetto-esque living conditions that lack basic services and opportunities. In addition to poor living conditions, thousands of Rohingya have been fleeing to neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh, as a result of continuing violence and persecution over the last couple decades (Al Jazeera) Hmong People The Hmong people are an ethnic group residing in China and Southeast Asia. They were displaced by Han Chinese expansion. After displacement, the group migrated to Vietnam, Laos and Thailand and eastern Myanmar. There are also significant population blocks in the United States France, Australia, French Guiana, Canada and Argentina. The stateless nature of the Hmong has left them vulnerable for exploitation (New World Encyclopedia). History Zainichi Koreans Since the end of World War II, there has been Zainichi Koreans residing in Japan. The Zainichi Koreans are known as descendants of the Koreans who came to Japan during Japan s colonial rule of Korean and never left (Onishi, 2005). Post WWII, Zainichi lost certain rights, such as voting rights, denial to social welfare and benefits, education, employment and etc. (Moon, 2017). Most Zainichis have lived their entire life in Japan spoken Japanese, however they do not have Japanese citizenship unless they decide to be naturalized. Without Japanese citizenship, there are limits on the levels of employment they can have. In addition to discrimination in Japan, the Zainichis are discriminated in Korea because the majority of them do not know how to speak Korean. Palestinians The Palestinians are the largest stateless group in the world expanding over four generations beginning in The Israeli government wanted to reduce the number of Palestinian Arabs in order to increase the number of Jewish immigrants. Therefore, Israel issued three laws within the time span of four years that nullified the rights of the displaced non-jewish population. Israel did not acknowledge the Palestinians inhabitants in the occupied Palestinian territory as citizens (Shiblak). In addition to Israel, Kuwait has expelled Palestinians in 1991 and Libya in Other host states have agreed to grant Palestinian refugee full citizenship rights, however, they cannot become naturalized. Rohingya Muslims Followers of Islam have lived in soon-to-be Myanmar since the 12th century. Since Myanmar s independence from British colonialist rule in 1948, the Union Citizenship Act was passed, which defined the ethnic groups who had the right to citizenship. This act excluded the Rohingya, but the law did allow families who lived in Myanmar for at least two years the ability to apply for identification cards. Although this was very generalized citizenship, it provided the Rohingya s provisional citizenship and representation in national parliament. However, in 1962, a military coup took over Myanmar, resulting in the requirement for all citizens MSUMUN XVIII 16

17 to get national registration cards, which excluded the Rohingya because they were given foreign identity cards. These foreign identity cards severely narrowed the types of jobs and educational opportunities that were pursuable and obtainable. These opportunities for advanced education and employment grew even narrower when a new citizenship law in 1982 was passed, further excluding the Rohingya from Burmese society. Under the law in 1982, the Rohingya were not recognized as a national ethnic group because they lacked the paperwork to prove they were true citizens. This law also continued to restrict their rights to study, work, travel, marry, practice religion, vote, and access health care services. Resulting in further hurdles in order to become naturalized citizens. In addition to limited civil and political rights, the Burmese government in the 1970s, began cracking down on the Rohingya in the Rakhine State. These crackdowns have resulted in hundreds and thousands of Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and other neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Chongryon The Chongryon are ethnic North Koreans that live in Japan. They arrived in Japan in 1910 when the expanding Japanese Empire took over the Korean peninsula and brought Koreans back to the island to work in the army or in brothels. After WW2, the Koreans were granted freedom and most Koreans returned home. Those that decided to stay constitute the Chongryon. During the Korean War, the Chongryon were forced to choose between allegiance with North or South Korea. The group chose the North due to receiving economic support from Kim Il Sung, and subsequently identified themselves as North Korean. The Chongryon built a financial network and sent money back to North Korea. Economic success plummeted after North Korea began sending spies to Japan, and kidnapped Japanese citizens in the 1970 s. These acts furthered Japanese hostility towards North Korea, and the ethnically North Korean Chongryon that lived in Japan. The Chongryon had to declare bankruptcy. Only a few Chongryon schools remain of the once strong financial network. Hmong People In the 1960 s, the CIA recruited Hmong in Laos to fight in the Vietnam War in a specialized Guerrilla Unit. After the Laotian Civil War and United States withdrew from Vietnam, the Hmong became the targets of persecution at the hands of communist Laos government. Thousands of Hmong escaped to Thailand where they were held in UN refugee camps. Those that did not escape Laos were sent to re-education camps, where there were many casualties. Hmong that escaped the camps went into hiding in the mountains (Tapp). Current Issues Zainichi Koreans Today, many Zainichi are proud of their identity. There is also cultural diaspora as Korean culture has become popular over the year (Moon, 2017). Most Zainichi have lived their entire life in Japan spoken Japanese, however they do not have Japanese citizenship unless they decide to be naturalized. Without a Japanese citizenship, there are limits on the type of occupation an individual can have. While being a Zainichi can be difficult, the existence of Zainichi people signifies history (Onishi, 2005). MSUMUN XVIII 17

18 Stateless Palestinians Currently, not only are the Palestinians deprived of fundamental human right to right to nationality, it also creates instability different regions and impact the Palestinians negatively. The stateless people will pay the price of political instability and insecurity in the countries they are located. The marginalized and impoverished stateless community constitutes a major factor in destabilizing the Middle East area (Shiblak). It can also cause large scale migration, which can lead to instability in the regions outside of the Middle East. Rohingya Muslims Currently the Burmese military has continued to crackdown on the Rohingya in the Rakhine state, which has resulted in more than 400,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee north into Bangladesh (Calamur). This has caused tensions between the Rohingya Muslims and the Buddhists in the Rakhine state to be at an all-time high (Al Jazeera). As thousands of Rohingya flee to neighboring countries, Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar s de facto leader, has refused to publicly condemn the actions of the Burmese military and the plight of the Rohingya in regard to a future path to citizenship. This has caused many activist groups leaders within the Rohingya community to speak out for their identity and dignity in order to make a case for the basic human rights they deserve (Calamur).(Figure 1) On November 23 of 2017, Myanmar and Bangladesh worked a step closer to creating a process for potential repatriation of Rohingya Muslims living in Bangladesh back to the Rakhine state. Myanmar has advocated for the return of the Rohingya to be done bilaterally, while Bangladesh wants the involvement of international agencies. However, this would only happen if the displaced Rohingya can prove they lived in Myanmar before fleeing the state over the last three months. Another major challenge for fully implementing this agreement is whether the Burmese military will accept their proof of residence because many for the Rohingya who have fled do not have papers proving their status. It also brings into question whether the Rohingya want to return to Myanmar, a country where they have been subjected to harsh treatment by the military. But the bottom line is that the Rohingya are in a limbo between two countries and will continue to be stateless (Beech). Chongryon Today, the Chongryon form an ethnic North Korean bubble in Japan. The Chongryon declare allegiance with a nation that has committed many human rights violations, yet they are struggling in a country that is openly discriminatory towards them and trying to suppress their culture. There is a vicious cycle of hostility between the Chongryon and Japanese today. Chongryon adopt North korea as their home because Japan has blocked their citizenship and taken measures against them. Japanese nationalism facilitates discrimination against Chongryon, MSUMUN XVIII 18

19 leading Chongryon to more strongly identify with the North Koreans that support them. Furthermore, allegiance with the North Koreans furthers anti Chongryon discrimination in Japan. Hmong People Today, Hmong remain displaced within Laos and live in fear of government persecution and seek asylum from other nations. A growing debate has arisen regarding the resettlement of Hmong people that live in UN refugee camps, due the the fact that many are refusing to return to Laos. Countries that are willing to take in refugees are hindered by the Taiwanese government policy hindering their access to refugees (Tapp). Current Positions While not all countries are directly impacted, it is important to acknowledge that these and other groups live among people of citizenship throughout the region. Many of these people are scattered throughout Asia and the Middle East. It is important to acknowledge the existence of these people. It is essential that basic human rights are not violated because they do not have a political state's backing. Zainichi Koreans Many Koreans face discrimination and hate crimes against them as they are not Japanese nationals. For many of these Zainichi Koreans, they have never stepped out of Japan, and yet they are considered foreigners. Annually, Zainichi will seek naturalization, however, many wants to keep their Korean nationality. Palestinians The Palestinians view themselves separate nation from the Arab World. The Palestinians have their own systems for certain functions, such as passport and international calling code. However, the Palestinians continue the struggles of defining their nation and where the future homeland should be (Margolis). Rohingya Muslims The international community, especially the United Nations, has strongly condemned the violence against the Rohingya Muslims. Many of this criticism is directed at Aung San Suu Kyi, who is viewed as someone who should be doing more to protect the Rohingya throughout this crisis. Many leaders like Suu Kyi in Myanmar view them as a foreign group with a separatist, Muslim agenda that is funded overseas. However, as the Rohingya continue to be persecuted, their citizenship rights continue to be in contention as many members of Burmese society continue to view them as foreigners (Calamur). Chongryon Today, the Chongryon form an ethnic North Korean bubble in Japan. (Figure 2, below) The Chongryon continue to declare allegiance to a nation that is infamous for its many human rights violations, while struggling to survive in a country that continues to subject them to societal discrimination and cultural suppression. There is a vicious cycle of hostility between the Chongryon and Japanese citizens today. Chongryon adopt North Korea as their home because Japan has blocked their citizenship and taken measures against them. Japanese nationalism facilitates discrimination against Chongryon, leading Chongryon to more strongly identify with the North MSUMUN XVIII 19