China and the Korean War Flashcards
What happened on the 25th of June 1950?
and After?
A 135,000 strong army of Communist North Korean troops invaded capitalist South Korea
A coalition of UN forces, led by US (superpower), repelled the invasion.
They advanced close to the North Korean border with China.
Mao took military action: the PRC (1 years old) was at war with 15 nations.
What happened during the Korean War?
The Chinese army (PLA) fought the UN nations to a standstill.
Hostilities ended with a ceasefire: 1953
What was a positive for the communist regime in intervening in the Korean war,
specifically to do with the power of the CCP, and the PRCs foreign standing?
It enhanced the CCPs power:
PRC was a year old when war broke out,
Needed the support of Communist leaders in other countries to survive
In fighting a war against the capitalist America, Mao could prove to Stalin he was a trustworthy ally.
The Korean War has the positive of allowing Mao excuses toooooo?
1) for the regime to lock up ENEMIES: non-communists= spies, capitalist sympathisers, traitors
2) to enforce CONSCRIPTION, raise TAXES, force farmers to GIVE UP CROPS to air War effort.
What campaign did the communists launch, during the Korean War, that was a positive for the regime?
“Resist America, Aid Korea” campaign.
MOBILISED PUBLIC SUPPORT for the Chinese army by encouraging workers to DONATE WAGES for war effort.
Sense of SHARED NATIONAL PRIDE, UNITY
Mao saw an opportunity, with the Korean War, to build popular support for his regime:
If the PLA could fight successfully,
Mao would be viewed as a brave and heroic leader.
💪🏼🇻🇳
In 1950, why would a war be problematic?
The new regime desperately needed a period of stability!!!!!
Still recovering from the catastrophic impacts of:
- invasion by the JAPANESE
- the SECOND WORLD WAR
- the CIVIL WAR
What impact did the Korean War have, at a time when stability would have been desperately needed?
Terrible impact on Chinese economy, lives of the Chinese people.
What was the human cost of the Korean War?
3m Chinese soldiers were sent to Korea, 400,000 died.
The forced requisitioning of grain led to famine in some parts
3/1950 suppress counter revolutionaries campaign:
AIM: Prevent Nationalist sympathisers & spies from undermining the regime 👥
SO: if you had previously worked for the nationalist regime, or you were an academic who had worked with foreign universities, you were most vulnerable. 🏛
ALSO: Businessman? Forced to leave the country, property confiscated 💼
Christian missionary? Many arrested. ✝️
What was the financial cost of the Korean War?
Money spent on WAR = Much-needed reforms in EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE ————> did not happen.
Government did negotiate military support from the SU, BUT
- aid not free
- aid had to Brezhnev paid back
THE WAR COST THE PRC $10 billion.
China’s enhanced international prestige as a result of the Korean War?
China previously: “the sick man of Asia”— backward nation, bullied and humiliated by foreign powers.
China now: feared and respected in the west die to military success
