Aim: What events led to the start of the Cold War in Asia?

Objective Student will be able to describe the steps taken by the United States to stop the spread of communism.

3. Trouble in the Far East There was also trouble in the Far East. Just like in Western Europe, the United States also tried to stop the spread of communism in Asia. The spread of communism led the United States to get into conflict with the Soviet Union in Asia as well as in Europe.

Question 1 What was the major problem that the United States had in Asia?

3.1 Communism in China Communism had made great inroads into China, which had come out of WW2 a divided nation. The Nationalist Party, under Chiang Kai-Shek, headed the Chinese government. At the same time, however, the Chinese Communist Party, led by Mao Tse-tung, controlled nearly 25% of the Chinese population.

China China’s Flag Map of China Mao Tse-tung Chiang Kai-Shek

The Nationalists and the Communists had been fighting for control of China since 1927. During WW2, they had stood together against the Japanese. Once the Japanese were defeated, the two sides resumed their civil war. This time, the Soviet Union backed the Communists, while the United States backed the Nationalists.

However, the Nationalists steadily lost ground and by 1949, the Communists had driven the Nationalists from Mainland China to the island of Taiwan. On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was set up in mainland China under the leadership of Mao Tse-tung.

Mao Tse-tung Mao Tse-tung became leader of China in 1949. When he assumed power, he sent the Nationalists to Taiwan, an island off the coast of China. The British, French and the Soviets all backed Mao. The United States still backed the Nationalists. The US did not want Mao on the UN Security Council. This led to a disagreement with the Soviets. Mao was recognized by the US Government in 1972.

Forrest Gump Played Ping Pong

England, France, and the Soviet Union all recognized the existence of Mao’s government. However, the United States still backed the Nationalists and Chiang Kai-shek. The Soviet Union backed Mao and his quest to sit on the United States Security Council. The US vetoed this decision and the Soviets left the UN Security Council.

Taiwan Formed by the Nationalists of China who escaped after the Chinese Civil War of 1947. The Chinese are trying to find a way to unify Taiwan under China’s rule.

Question 2 Which political parties were involved in a Chinese civil war after World War 2?

Question 3 Who helped the Communists in their civil war in 1947?

Question 4 When was Communist China established? To where did the Nationalists escape to?

Question 5 What argument did the United States have with the Soviet Union in China?

Two Communist Headaches The Soviet Union Mao and Stalin China

3.2 The Korean War (1950-53) East-West relations grew even worse with the Korean War. The US and Soviet Union, after defeating Japan, moved into Korea. Just as they did in Europe, the two nations divided the Korean Peninsula into North Korea (controlled by the USSR-communist) and South Korea (controlled by the US-democratic).

Korean Peninsula North Korea (communist) South Korea (democratic)

On June 25, 1950, the North Korean military, trained by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea to unite the peninsula under Communist rule. On June 27, 1950, President Truman ordered American air and naval forces to support the South Korean military. The United Nations Security Council declared North Korea the aggressor and asked all nations to aid South Korea.

Because of its boycott with the issue of China, the Soviet Union did not vote. This would have prevented the United Nations from interfering in the war. Fifteen nations, as well as the United States, sent troops to aid South Korea. However, the United States and South Korea made up 90% of the force. The troops were led by General Douglas MacArthur.

General Douglas MacArthur Hero of the Pacific Campaign during World War 2. He was now in charge of running the UN forces in the Korean War. 48% of the UN forces were United States soldiers. It would be his conflict with President Truman that would lead to his downfall.

Images of the Korean War North Korea invades the South (1950) Map of the North Korean Invasion

Images of the Korean War

For a while, the North Koreans nearly overran the South Koreans. On June 28, 1950, the North Koreans overran the capital of South Korea of Seoul. By early August, the North Koreans pushed the UN troops to an area called Pusan.

Early Battles of the Korean War North Korea invaded South Korea on June 20, 1950. Within two months, the North Korean Army pushed the United Nations troops to an area in the South called Pusan. It seemed the Korean War may Have gone to the North, but General MacArthur had a trick up his sleeves.

The tide turned for the UN troops when General MacArthur staged a surprise landing at Inchon, behind North Korean forces. Soon MacArthur captured Seoul and pushed the North Koreans back beyond the border between the two nations.

The Invasion at Inchon General MacArthur was able to invade Inchon and drive the North Koreans back into their nation.

By late November, the UN forces had pushed the North Koreans back to the Yalu River. With victory at hand, the UN troops were now attacked by 250,000 Chinese troops. The Chinese drove the UN forces back into South Korea. General MacArthur wanted to attack and invade China, but President Truman refused. He then fired MacArthur.

China Enters the Korean War The Chinese attacked the UN troops in November 1950. General MacArthur wanted to invade China, but Harry Truman refused, so MacArthur argued and was fired.

In the spring of 1951, the UN troops drove the Chinese and North Koreans back across the 38th parallel-the border between North and South Korea. General MacArthur was fired and replaced by General Matthew Ridgeway. Fighting continued until the Soviet Union proposed a cease-fire along the 38th parallel and both sides agreed to talk.

Peace talks began in 1951 but broke down quickly. When talks began again, they lasted until July 1953, when an armistice was signed. In three years of fighting, 54,000 were killed and 103,000 were wounded. Although no side won, Communist expansion was checked.

The End of the Korean War Casualties In The Korean War S. Korea 984,400 killed and wounded USA 169,365 killed and wounded England 5,017 killed and wounded Although there was no winner of the Korean War, there was never even a peace treaty signed between North and South Korea. The armistice established a boundary between the North and South at the 38th parallel. This is called the DMZ. Today, North Korea still remains a problem for the Bush administration. General Clark signs the armistice in July 1953

The Demilitarized Zone The South Korean/US forces are at the top. The North Korean forces are at the bottom. This is the closest point between the two Koreas.

Kim Jong-Il North Korea is led by Kim Jong-Il, a dictator Who lives the life of luxury while keeping a Large portion of his population in poverty. Kim Jong-Il has been linked to President Bush’s “axis of evil” along with Iran and Iraq. He has had diplomatic meetings with the US in the 1990s. The problem with North Korea is that Kim Jong-Il has the technology and capability to make and fire nuclear weapons, some as far as Japan. Whoever become President must deal with North Korea because they may have the capability to hit Hawaii and California in the near future.

South Korea South Korea has slowly become one of the leading economic powers of Asia with their biggest industry being automobiles. The US finds that protecting South Korea is in our best economic, political and militaristic interests.