The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

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The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War Kevin J. Benoy

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The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War. Kevin J. Benoy. WW2 Ends. Just as the end of the world called into question the future geopolitical situation in Europe, Asia was also in a state of flux after Japan collapsed. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Page 1: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Kevin J. Benoy

Page 2: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

WW2 Ends• Just as the end of the

world called into question the future geopolitical situation in Europe, Asia was also in a state of flux after Japan collapsed.

• In Asia the preponderant military power was America – so initially it appeared that American interests would come out on top.

Page 3: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

WW2 Ends• Neither of the new super-powers

considered the possibility of a Communist China.

• Stalin seemed committed to accommodation with Chiang Kai Shek’s (Jiang Zhongzheng in Mandarin) Kuomintang (Guomindang). As Stalin’s biographer, Isaac Deutscher notes, Stalin was: “contemptuous of partisans, sceptical of the chances of communism in China, and distrustful of any revolution asserting itself without his fiat and beyond the range of his military power.

• The Americans also underestimated Mao’s partisans and were confident Chiang would become the policeman of the Far East – in cooperation with the USA.

Page 4: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Mao’s CCP (Chinese Communist Party)

• Mao was more confident in his own forces than was his Soviet sponsor.

• He understood better than anyone outside China that KMT (GMD) power rested on a fragile base.

Page 5: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Mao’s CCP• During WW2 the Communists

waged a reasonably effective guerilla war against the Japanese.

• They were seen as Chinese patriots willing to continue the struggle even behind Japanese lines.

• The KMT were seen as ineffective. Chiang seemed to place more importance on conserving his forces to use later, against the communists, than risk them against the Japanese prior to Japan’s invasion in 1937.

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Mao’s CCP

• In 1937 the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) had 5 secure base areas with a population of 12 million people.

• In 1945 there were 19 base areas with 100 million people.

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The Kuomintang• KMT government was

ineffective.• Corruption was rife.

Officials were as likely as not to be lining their own pockets and those of their landowning friends with whatever could be skimmed from foreign aid or from national production.

• Little or nothing was done for the rural peasantry, making up the bulk of China’s population.

Page 8: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Kuomintang

• Peasants remembered that Chiang tolerated food profiteering during the 1930’s – a time of rural famine.

• Peasants also faced high taxes and forced labour when many landlords conspicuously displayed their wealth.

Page 9: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Kuomintang

• Laws intended to prevent child labour were not enforced.

• Factory inspectors were openly bribed, yet nothing was done to stop the practice because Chiang was afraid of alienating his industrialist backers.

Page 10: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Communists• Compared to the KMT,

the Communists appeared paragons of virtue.

• Land reform took place in Communist areas; all, including the poorest peasants, received some land.

• Corruption was not tolerated by the thoroughly dedicated CCP leadership.

Page 11: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

War’s End• At the end of the war American

and Soviet forces ensured their clients, Chiang and Mao, moved in to replace the defeated Japanese in occupied territories.

• Manchuria fell into Communist hands (though Stalin saw this as temporary – giving him a bargaining chip).

• To the South Chiang’s KMT took control.

• In both cases, Chinese forces inherited the weapon stocks of the defeated Japanese.

Page 12: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

War’s End• As Soviet troops withdrew

from Manchuria, they took with them about $200 million in industrial machinery.

• When Chiang’s troops finally entered the northern province, they were in a difficult situation.

• They could only assert control in the cities.

• Like the Japanese before them, they faced a hostile population…and their supply lines ran through hostile territory.

Page 13: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

War’s End• Attempts to reconcile the KMT and

CCP by US General George C. Marshall seemed to help as a compromise settlement was worked out in early 1946.

• However, nationalist (KMT) generals, fearing loss of power in a reconstructed national army, and CCP elements opposing expanded KMT influence in Manchuria, sank the deal.

• Marshall called for an embargo on arms shipments to China – but to no avail.

• He left China blaming both sides as civil war raged.

Page 14: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War

• Chiang had strong support in the USA – the China Lobby – business interests and missionary groups opposed to communism.

• Truman’s policies elsewhere had stirred up strong anti-communist feelings – now the administration was a prisoner of the great fear.

• Pressure to resume aid to Chiang grew stronger.

Page 15: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War• At first the KMT

enjoyed some success in N. China and Manchuria, taking many of the cities from the communists.

• However, economic trouble caused by the high cost of paying for the war undermined Chiang’s efforts.

Page 16: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War• Inefficiency and

corruption, along with high inflation, could not be countered by even large-scale US aid – about $900 million worth of military equipment was sold to Chiang for about 20% of its real cost.

• Civilian and military morale suffered.

Page 17: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War

• Financial matters in CCP controlled rural areas were of less consequence, as most lived outside the cash economy.

• Communist morale remained high.

Page 18: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War

• In January, 1947 communist forces began an offensive that captured ½ of KMT territory in Manchuria.

• Mass KMT desertions followed and much equipment fell into CCP hands.

Page 19: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War• Other Communist

forces advanced in Central China.

• In 1948, decisive Communist victories occurred in North China.

• Each CCP victory sapped KMT strength and undermined KMT morale.

Page 20: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War

• In a key battle for Hsuchow, total air superiority and superior armour could not overcome inept KMT leadership.

• By January, surrounded KMT forces numbering 500,000 men surrendered with all of their equipment.

Page 21: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War

• In 1949 Chiang resigned and was replaced by General Li – but the situation was hopeless.

• Nanking, Hankow and Shanghai fell.

• By the end of 1949 only Hainan, Taiwan and some small islands were in KMT hands.

Page 22: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Civil War• The KMT government re-

established itself on Taiwan – taking with it as much of China’s wealth as possible, including most of the national gold reserves and much treasure from mainland museums.

• Chiang came out of retirement to head what was left of Nationalist China.

• America was shocked that $35 billion in aid were not enough to give Chiang victory in the civil war.

Page 23: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Communist Victory• Mao now had the

mammoth task of re-building a war-torn mainland China.

• He began talks with Stalin (who he did not trust), hoping to receive aid.

• For his part, Stalin wanted to exploit the unexpected communist windfall, while realizing that Mao’s victory also presented the Soviets with problems.

Page 24: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Communist Victory• It was clear that Mao would

expect Stalin to give up some of his Manchurian booty.

• Ideological differences between the two leaders were vast, despite their common Marxist rhetoric.

• Stalin was a European proletarian communist, whereas Mao was an Asian communist with his roots planted firmly in the rural peasantry.

Page 25: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Communist Victory• After 3 hard months of negotiations in secret talks, a deal was

finally reached.• On February 14, 1950 a formal alliance was signed.• Stalin promised to return what his forces took from Manchuria.• The Manchurian railway would be returned to China not later than

the end of 1952.• Port Arthur was returned (though Dairen remained in Soviet hands).• Generous development aid was promised – though only $300

million was ever delivered.• Stalin wanted to avoid having another breakaway Communist

country – like Jugoslavia. He needed any help he could get at a time of increasing friction between the USSR and the capitalist West.

Page 26: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

America’s Response• Communism’s terrific success in

Asia shook US leadership.• Though the Truman Doctrine

spoke forcefully of containing communism, it was felt that more was needed.

• In early 1950 the National Security Council began work on a secret document (declassified in 1975), known as NSC-68, which would form the basis of US policy for the next 20 years.

• America was committed to massive re-armament – to the tune of $50-60 billion in spending per year.

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America’s Response

• The premise of the document was that the US and USSR were locked in a struggle of ideologies which “...inescapably confronts the slave society with the free... To that end Soviet efforts are now directed toward the domination of the Eurasian land mass.”

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America’s Response• Secretary of State Dean Acheson

overruled the opposition of two key State Department experts on Russia, George Kennan and Charles Bohlen, who felt Stalin had no master plan for world conquest.

• Acheson felt it necessary for the USA to launch a world-wide offensive to gain the initiative in the Cold War.

• Events of 1950 were sufficient to convince Truman that Acheson was right.

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Korea• At the end of hostilities in

1945, Korea was divided into two zones of occupation at the 38th Parallel to facilitate the surrender of Japanese forces.

• The United Nations called for free elections in the entire country to determine a post-war government.

• No agreement was reached on a formula suitable for both occupying powers.

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Korea

• Frustrated by Communist intransigence, the UN supervised elections in the South in 1948.

• The result was the establishment of the Republic of Korea (ROK), under President Syngman Rhee.

Page 31: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Korea• In the North, the Soviets

installed their own protégé – Kim Il Sung – in the new Democratic People’s Republic of Korea a month later.

• When American And Soviet troops pulled out of Korea in 1949, they left two mutually antagonistic regimes in Seoul and Pyongyang – with two leaders claiming to be the legitimate leader of the whole country.

Page 32: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Korea• Both rulers were

authoritarian.• Kim Il Sung adopted the

traditional communist methods of dealing with the opposition.

• Syngman Rhee also disregarded constitutional rights to the point where the US State Department registered a protest of his actions in early 1950.

Page 33: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• On June 7, 1950, North

Korean troops invaded the South – attempting to take advantage of the political instability resulting from Rhee’s debacle in the May elections – he won only 48 or 168 seats, yet patched together a shaky coalition and continued to rule.

Page 34: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• Encouraged by Acheson and MacArthur’s comments that Korea stood outside the American defense perimeter, Kim (and his Soviet protector, Stalin) must have believed that the US would not act.

Page 35: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• At first the N. Koreans

defeated the hapless and disorganized forces of the South.

• President Truman cut short a visit to Missouri to return to Washington.

• He and Acheson was convinced this was part of a Russian-directed plot to spread communism.

• Their response, however, was measured.

Page 36: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• General MacArthur was

ordered to sent supplies from Japan to the South Koreans.

• Fearing Mao might strike against Taiwan, the US 7th Fleet sailed between the island and the mainland.

• At the UN, the USA introduced a resolution in the Security Council branding N. Korea an aggressor and calling for a return to pre-war positions.

Page 37: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• The Soviets were boycotting the UN in protest against Red China’s exclusion from the organization.

• As a result, the motion passed 9-0, with just Jugoslavia abstaining, and no chance of a Soviet veto.

• Two days later, with S. Korean forces collapsing, US air and naval forces committed to the war.

Page 38: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• On the same day, June 27, another Security Council resolution was passed, calling for UN help for S. Korea.

• This passed 7-1, with Jugoslavia opposing and India and Egypt abstaining.

Page 39: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• 15 countries committed troops

– Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Nationalist China, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Colombia, Greece, Turkey, Panama, the Philippines, Thailand, and the United States.

• All fell under the command of US General Douglas MacArthur.

• Officially a UN operation, it was clear that the major contributor, the US, called the shots.

Page 40: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• International support saved

the South.• Reinforcements poured into

the still unoccupied Pusan Perimeter.

• In a dramatic counter-attack, MacArthur reversed the fortunes of war.

• The Inchon landing, near Seoul, and a couple of hundred miles to the rear of the battle-front, resulted in a stunning defeat for the North Koreans.

Page 41: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• Soon the North Koreans were

in a disorganized retreat.• In two weeks, communist

forces were pushed out of the South.

• Truman ordered the UN to push beyond the 38th parallel – fully intending to bring about unification by eliminating Kim’s communist government in the North.

Page 42: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• Communist China’s Zhou Enlai

warned the Americans that crossing the 38th Parallel might bring China into the war.

• The Americans thought it a bluff.

• Confident that their nuclear superiority would keep Stalin out of the conflict and convinced Mao’s army was incapable of effective fighting, the US could not imagine a communist response.

Page 43: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• With the US 7th fleet poised against it in the South China Sea, American forces approaching the Manchurian border and Chiang Kai Shek calling for his foces to be unleashed on the mainland to roll back communism, the Chinese communists took the initiative.

Page 44: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• The war almost grew on October 9, when two US F-80 jets attacked a Soviet airfield near Vladivostok.

• Stalin protested, the US apologized, and no further action was taken.

Page 45: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• In November, 300,000 Chinese “volunteers” crossed the border, pushing UN forces out of North Korea by mid-January, 1951.

• MacArthur talked of attacking Manchuria and using atomic bombs if necessary.

Page 46: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War

• Truman countermanded MacArthur’s orders to bomb Chinese troops and supplies in Manchuria.

• Fearing his commander might spark a 3rd World War, Truman dismissed MacArthur on April 11, 1951.

Page 47: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

The Korean War• The war settled into a long

and hard-fought stalemate.• More and more lives were

lost as two years of negotiations at Panmunjon continued.

• Finally, a compromise was reached in July, 1953.

• The border was returned, more, or less to the 38th parallel – modified to follow local landforms.

Page 48: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Results of the War

• Korea was devastated.– 4 million were killed and

5 million left homeless.– The division of the

country seemed permanent.

– Cease-fire violations have continued regularly to the present.

Page 49: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Results of the War

• The Soviet Union never again boycotted the UN.

• Likewise, other Security Council members learned a valuable lesson.

• Their use of the veto effectively blocked any further use of collective security in the Cold War period.

Page 50: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Results of the War

• Turning the Cold War hot over Korea intensified the international conflict.

• Both sides distrusted each other more than ever.

• For the US, North Korean aggression and the Chinese intervention confirmed the beliefs of the authors of NSC-68 that the USSR was using client states to further communist expansion.

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Results of the War• America’s relationship

with China was strained for decades to come.

• America was committed to a global strategy of containment of Communism – no longer just in areas previously considered vital to American interest.

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Results of the War

• America soon began its fateful involvement in Vietnam, pledging to help France fighting communist insurgency.

• Just financial at first, it would later involve troops.

• US military commitments in Europe and Asia grew dramatically.

Page 53: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Results of the War• Within the US, anti-communist

sentiment grew hugely and the efforts of MacArthur supporters and the radical right of Senator Joseph McCarthy took the US into a period of domestic turmoil.

• Truman and Acheson were accused of being “soft on communism.”

• American Leftists were persecuted and hounded out of jobs during the witch hunts of the 1950s.

Page 54: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

Results of the War• By the time McCarthyism ran its

course at least 9 million Americans had been investigated.

• Thousands lost their jobs and reputations – badly tarnishing America’s reputation for fairness.

• Much of Truman’s Fair Deal was defeated in an atmosphere of anti-Socialism.

• President Truman himself lost his job in the 1952 election – to Eisenhower.

• Dean Acheson was replaced by an even stronger anti-communist – John Foster Dulles.

Page 55: The Chinese Revolution and the Korean War

finis