China and the Cold War “A Second Look” With their victory in 1949, Communists gained control of one-fifth of the world’s people.

Background After Japan’s defeat, Communist forces led by Mao Zedong fought a civil war and won. After Japan’s defeat, Communist forces led by Mao Zedong fought a civil war and won. The defeated Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan. The defeated Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan. Mao Zedong built a communist one-party totalitarian state in the PRC. Mao Zedong built a communist one-party totalitarian state in the PRC.

China & the United States After Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan, the United States supported his Nationalist government as the rightful representative of China. After Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan, the United States supported his Nationalist government as the rightful representative of China. However, when China split with the USSR, the U.S., changed its policy. However, when China split with the USSR, the U.S., changed its policy. –President Nixon visited in : formal diplomatic relations were established

As for China and Taiwan… Mainland China saw Taiwan as a breakaway province and threatened military action when Taiwanese politicians proposed declaring the islands formal independence. Mainland China saw Taiwan as a breakaway province and threatened military action when Taiwanese politicians proposed declaring the islands formal independence. In the long term, the mainland government insisted that Taiwan be rejoined with China. Taiwan’s government resists such pressure. In the long term, the mainland government insisted that Taiwan be rejoined with China. Taiwan’s government resists such pressure.

Korea PENINSULA PENINSULA BORDERS CHINA BORDERS CHINA HAD BEEN AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY UNTIL JAPAN CONQUERED IT IN THE EARLY 20 TH CENTURY HAD BEEN AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY UNTIL JAPAN CONQUERED IT IN THE EARLY 20 TH CENTURY LIKE GERMANY, WAS SPLIT IN TWO BY RIVAL FORCES AFTER WW II & SO WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES DURING THE COLD WAR LIKE GERMANY, WAS SPLIT IN TWO BY RIVAL FORCES AFTER WW II & SO WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES DURING THE COLD WAR AFTER JAPAN’S DEFEAT IN WW II, SOVIET AND AMERICAN FORCES AGREED TO TEMPORARILY DIVIDE KOREA ALONG THE 38 TH PARALLEL. AFTER JAPAN’S DEFEAT IN WW II, SOVIET AND AMERICAN FORCES AGREED TO TEMPORARILY DIVIDE KOREA ALONG THE 38 TH PARALLEL.

WAR IN EARLY 1950, KIM IL SUNG CALLED FOR A “HEROIC STRUGGLE” TO REUNITE KOREA. IN EARLY 1950, KIM IL SUNG CALLED FOR A “HEROIC STRUGGLE” TO REUNITE KOREA. 1950: NORTH KOREAN TROOPS INVADE THE SOUTH. 1950: NORTH KOREAN TROOPS INVADE THE SOUTH. U.S. ORGANIZES A UN FORCE TO HELP SOUTH KOREA. U.S. ORGANIZES A UN FORCE TO HELP SOUTH KOREA. CHINA BACKS NORTH KOREA & REVERSES UN GAINS. CHINA BACKS NORTH KOREA & REVERSES UN GAINS.

KOREAN WAR: RESULTS TURNED INTO A STALEMATE TURNED INTO A STALEMATE 1953: BOTH SIDES SIGNED AN ARMISTICE, OR END TO FIGHTING. 1953: BOTH SIDES SIGNED AN ARMISTICE, OR END TO FIGHTING. NEARLY 2 MILLION NORTH & SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS DUG IN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DMZ NEAR THE 38 TH PARALLEL. NEARLY 2 MILLION NORTH & SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS DUG IN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DMZ NEAR THE 38 TH PARALLEL. THE ARMISTICE HELD FOR THE REST OF THE COLD WAR. THE ARMISTICE HELD FOR THE REST OF THE COLD WAR. NO PEACE TREATY WAS EVER SIGNED! NO PEACE TREATY WAS EVER SIGNED!