Quote: "The Cold War began with the division of Europe. It can only end when Europe is whole." -George H W Bush
Quote: "The Cold War isn’t thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn’t sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting." -Richard Nixon
Quote: "Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you." -Nikita S. Khrushchev
Quote: "If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." -John F. Kennedy
Quote: "Death solves all problems - no man, no problem." -Joseph Stalin
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Sunday, March 28, 2010,9:09 PM
Reasons for Chinese Intervention
The main question to be addressed in this topic is:
Why did the Chinese intervene in the Korean War?
To defend her own interests
To protect her resources
The United Nations Forces under the command of American General Douglas MacArthur were pushing the invading North Korean Forces back into North Korea.
The Government of China warned him not to come closer than 20 miles away from the YaluRiver, the border between China and North Korea, or they would consider it to be an act of war and would enter the war on the side of North Korea.
Despite this warning, MacArthur continued past the 20 miles mark, even though being told not to by the US. President Harry S. Truman.
At that time, Manchuria, especially Liaoning — the province right across the YaluRiver — was China’s most important industrial center, and therefore, protecting the Manchurian industrial zone was of prime importance. If China did not take the first step, then MacArthur’s forces would press on China along the Yalu river, China's northeastern defense force would be pinned down, and Southern Manchuria's power supply (generated from hydroelectric plants in North Korea) would be controlled by hostile forces.
In this sense, China was protecting her economic resources by preventing the advance of MacArthur’s forces, by intervening in the Korean War.
To prevent USA’s presence in her buffer zone
China had no diplomatic ties with the United States - which refused to recognise China - and was thus reliant on the New York Times for information regarding the USA's foreign policy intentions. From this source they gained the impression that American action against North Korea was the beginning of a wider campaign against Communism, by a blockade starting from Korea and ending at Vietnam. This idea was reinforced by the fact that United States' had prior support for Chiang Kai-Shek (a proponent of the ideal of democracy). This was another reason behind why China responded the way it did following MacArthur’s advance towards the Yalu river.
Since a contest with USA would be inevitable, it was desirable to teach the Americans a lesson as early as possible. Also, it was far more advantageous to fight USA in Korea than in the Taiwan straits or Vietnam.
Note:
Taking into account the actual situation of poor Sino-Soviet relations, it is perhaps more realistic to think that China was acting solely in its own interests, and not in any defence of Communist principles. Mao would probably not have allowed himself to be persuaded by Stalin into protecting North Korea on the Soviet Union's behalf, given both the strained Sino-Soviet relationship, and the urgent need to rebuild a country shattered by more than a quarter of a century of civil war.
As a show of power
Sino-Soviet relations were strained, and Mao was keen to put itself above USSR in the ‘hierarchy’ of Communism. Also, the ruling Communist party of China had strong anti-USA sentiments, given the US support of the Nationalists against the Communists in the Civil War of China. All these made Mao feel the need to have a strong show of strength.
And indeed, the fact that Chinese forces held their own against United Nation forces in this war heralded that China was once again becoming a major world power. The war is generally seen by many Chinese as an honorable part of China’s history, as it was the first time in a century that a Chinese army was able to stand up to a Western army in a major conflict.
-Shahid
Profilé
-Introduction
bolditalicunderlinestrikout
Our group comprises of Shahid, Nicky and Edwin.
For this history blog, we will talking about the cold war and address the following question:
Did the Communists overreact to the Allied powers actions? Our research focus would be mainly on:
The Berlin Blockade - Was Stalin too obsessed with blocking out the Americans from her sphere of influence?
The Korean War - Was USSR and China overly concerned when the American's fought back to regain their territory at the 38th parallel?
The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Soviet Union's actions which aggravated their relationship and indirectly progressed the Cold War.
Please give comments about our content on the cbox. (:
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Sunday, March 28, 2010,9:09 PM
Reasons for Chinese Intervention
The main question to be addressed in this topic is:
Why did the Chinese intervene in the Korean War?
To defend her own interests
To protect her resources
The United Nations Forces under the command of American General Douglas MacArthur were pushing the invading North Korean Forces back into North Korea.
The Government of China warned him not to come closer than 20 miles away from the YaluRiver, the border between China and North Korea, or they would consider it to be an act of war and would enter the war on the side of North Korea.
Despite this warning, MacArthur continued past the 20 miles mark, even though being told not to by the US. President Harry S. Truman.
At that time, Manchuria, especially Liaoning — the province right across the YaluRiver — was China’s most important industrial center, and therefore, protecting the Manchurian industrial zone was of prime importance. If China did not take the first step, then MacArthur’s forces would press on China along the Yalu river, China's northeastern defense force would be pinned down, and Southern Manchuria's power supply (generated from hydroelectric plants in North Korea) would be controlled by hostile forces.
In this sense, China was protecting her economic resources by preventing the advance of MacArthur’s forces, by intervening in the Korean War.
To prevent USA’s presence in her buffer zone
China had no diplomatic ties with the United States - which refused to recognise China - and was thus reliant on the New York Times for information regarding the USA's foreign policy intentions. From this source they gained the impression that American action against North Korea was the beginning of a wider campaign against Communism, by a blockade starting from Korea and ending at Vietnam. This idea was reinforced by the fact that United States' had prior support for Chiang Kai-Shek (a proponent of the ideal of democracy). This was another reason behind why China responded the way it did following MacArthur’s advance towards the Yalu river.
Since a contest with USA would be inevitable, it was desirable to teach the Americans a lesson as early as possible. Also, it was far more advantageous to fight USA in Korea than in the Taiwan straits or Vietnam.
Note:
Taking into account the actual situation of poor Sino-Soviet relations, it is perhaps more realistic to think that China was acting solely in its own interests, and not in any defence of Communist principles. Mao would probably not have allowed himself to be persuaded by Stalin into protecting North Korea on the Soviet Union's behalf, given both the strained Sino-Soviet relationship, and the urgent need to rebuild a country shattered by more than a quarter of a century of civil war.
As a show of power
Sino-Soviet relations were strained, and Mao was keen to put itself above USSR in the ‘hierarchy’ of Communism. Also, the ruling Communist party of China had strong anti-USA sentiments, given the US support of the Nationalists against the Communists in the Civil War of China. All these made Mao feel the need to have a strong show of strength.
And indeed, the fact that Chinese forces held their own against United Nation forces in this war heralded that China was once again becoming a major world power. The war is generally seen by many Chinese as an honorable part of China’s history, as it was the first time in a century that a Chinese army was able to stand up to a Western army in a major conflict.
