Cold War in Asia Flashcards
Yalta Conference
Feb 4-11, 1945
USSR given Pacific naval access and South Sakhalin and agrees to attack Japan 3 months after German surrender. USSR supports Jiang Jieshi. Trusteeship between Four powers and Korea suggested. Split Korea at 38th parallel.
What year was Pearl Harbor?
1941
Potsdam Conference
17 Jul - 2 Aug, 1945
Confirmed Soviet attack on Japan, Truman denies Korean trusteeship and sorting out border, agreed Southeast Asian occupations. Indochina was PLANNED to be given to China in the north and Britain in the south. Preparing for Japanese surrender.
Veto powers
All powers need to agree on something in order to take action
Early ideas of the United Nations
Since 1941, ‘Policemen of the world’ wanted to set up a security council including the USA, UK, USSR, China and France which were given Veto powers.
The Marshall Plan
Signed by Truman in 1948 to help countries against rising communist parties by a programme of economic aid
When was Truman’s presidency and what were his early ideas?
1945-1953, he was suspicious of the USSR and believed that he could defeat Japan without the USSR. Wants to invade Japan for Okinawa
When did Japan surrender in WW2 and why?
Sep 2 1945 due to Soviet invasion of Manchuria and bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
When was the USSR established?
1921
What is the name of the pan-Asian union that Japan wanted to create?
The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
Syngman Rhee
President of S. Korea 1948-1960
Mikhail Gorbachev
Last president of USSR 1985-1991
Dean Acheson
Secretary of State between Truman and JFK’s presidency
George Marshall
Chief of US Army under Roosevelt, Secretary of State and Defense under Truman
Manuel Roxas
First president of the Third Philippine Republic from 1946-1948. Unpopular due to involvement with pro-Japanese administration during WW2. Allowed US army to control Filipino military.
General MacArthur
Supreme Commander of US forces in Japan from 1945. Supported Manuel Roxas in WW2 trials and in presidency
Bell Trade Act
1946, made US goods more accessible to ship to Philippines. Ultimately was bad for economy as domestic Filipino products failed to complete. Caused inflation.
How much did the US invest into the Philippines in the goal of making it a model state and what was it invested into? What was the result of this?
$620 million for infrastructure (e.g. hospitals, schools, houses, factories) and military. Made Filipino economy dependent on US economy.
Hukbalahap/Huks
Filipino anti-Japanese guerilla group formed by farmers from Luzon
Satellite states
Formally independent but under control of another country
Martial law
Overthrowing civilian government with military rule
George Frost Kennan
Worked in US embassy in USSR, wrote ‘Long Telegram’ with 5000+ words in 1946 in response to Washington asking for explanation of Soviet activities, was invited to discuss Marshall Plan
What did the Long Telegram state about the USSR and communism?
Uses representatives to deepen conflicts in capitalist countries, secretive about militarisation, doesn’t take unnecessary risks, only understands the language of military force, is a ‘malignant parasite’ which feeds on ‘diseased tissue’
What did the Long Telegram instruct the US government to do?
Educate the public and allies about the USSR and communism to stop the red scare, ensure welfare of allies, build up military to increase risk for the Soviets
Nikolai Novikov
Wrote the Novikov Telegram which replaced mentions of USSR and communism in Kennan’s Long Telegram with the US and capitalism. Worked in USSR embassy in US. Given information about Long Telegram via Soviet spies.
What was the Huk rebellion?
1942-1954, Huks fight Japanese but after Japanese surrender, US demands arms surrender of Huks who refuse and hide their weapons. US/Filipino gov victory.
How did the government defeat the Huk rebellion?
US provides $7.2 mil and military aid. Magsaysay reformed army (destroyed corruption and made them flexible to respond to guerilla tactics) and demanded landlords give more harvest to peasants to make them financially stable.
Ramon Magsaysay
Secretary of Defense 1953-1957, previously a WW2 guerilla fighter
Why did the Huks fail the rebellion?
Used violence towards villagers, rebellion did not spread past Central Luzon, insufficient supplies
When did the Philippines gain independence?
1946 July 4
What did the US aim to achieve with the Philippines as a model state?
For the country to adopt American values (democracy, capitalism), be a useful ally in SEA, to be economically exploited, to be a capitalist example to other SEA countries
What did other Asian countries think of the Philippines as a model state?
They mocked it as a “poor little rich country” as it had many american goods but still suffered from poverty
How many Filipino troops were sent to assist the US in the Korean War?
7,500
How many Filipino troops were sent to assist the US in the Vietnam War?
10,000 (mainly non-combatant roles)
SCAP
Supreme Commander of Allied Powers
When was Douglas MacArthur in control of Japan?
1945-51
What did the US aim to achieve with Japan as a model state?
To eliminate the country as a threat, punish for WW2, share American values (democracy, capitalism) and to be a useful ally in the Cold War
What are the stages of US occupation in Japan?
Revenge (1945-6), Reform (1946-7), Rebuild (1947-52), Re-fang (1948-54), Independence (Sep 1951)
How many USD did Japanese exports earn in 1947 compared to 1950
$174 mil in 1947, $827 mil in 1950
How much money did the US invest into aid in Japan?
$500 mil
How much USD worth of war supplies did the US purchase from Japan?
$500 mil
What happened to Emperor Hirohito after WW2?
Removed from politics but not tried for war crimes and kept as a patriotic symbol
How did the US get revenge on Japan initially? (Some of these actions were reversed by the end of US control)
Tried war crimes targeting key individuals (most not guilty), dismantled army, destroyed arms, broke up zaibatsu (pre-war industrial, banking companies)
How did the US instill American values into Japan and eliminate communism?
Imposed democracy, wrote new constitution, ‘Red Purge’ banned communist parties, redistributed land from landlords to peasants
How many votes did the Japanese Communist party in 1949? What might be the causes?
3 million votes, before 1947 there was inflation and food shortages and the US blocked supplies to Japan via Navy as punishment
How did the US rearm Japan?
Created National Police Reserve (light army) which grew to 110,000 by 1954, allowed Japan to have tanks and artillery by 1952
When was the CCP founded?
1921
Chinese Nationalist party name
Guomingdang (GMD) or Kuomintang (KMT)
What is Jiang Jieshi also known as?
Chiang Kai Shek
When was the Chinese Civil War?
1927-1949
What started the Chinese Civil War?
The KMT decided to make an alliance with western foreign forces in China to strengthen the economy however the CCP refused to accept western influence. This lead to violence between the two parties.
What years did Japan annex Manchuria and launch a full-scale invasion of China on?
1931 and 1937
When is the People’s Republic of China established?
1949
Lend Lease Act
1941, allowed US to send arms and money to allies fighting against enemies
Who was sent to advise the GMD on military tactics and governing from the US?
George Marshall and Joseph Stilwell
When did the US cut funds towards the GMD and why?
1947-8 as they knew the CCP would win the war despite their funds towards the GMD
What were Jiang Jieshi’s strengths which appealed to the US?
Was anti-communist and fought them effectively 1925-47
When was the Long March?
1934-5
What were Jiang Jieshi’s weaknesses that led to his failure?
Did not listen to US advice as he knew they would fund him anyways, used conscription and underfed army which resulted in low morale and desertion, caused hyperinflation by printing notes - raised taxes in response. Broke dam nearby Yellow River Basin 1938. Used repressive secret police.
How much worse was inflation in 1949 China compared to 1937 during the Japanese invasion?
Prices rose to 6000x the levels in 1937. 1 grain = 2500 Chinese dollars
What were the CCP’s strengths compared to the GMD?
Won more support by emphasising kindness to peasants in army policies, used guerilla warfare and had better military strategy. Utilised unequal wealth distribution in China and Jiang’s weaknesses.
How many USD in aid did the USSR provide to the CCP in 1949?
$300 mil
What was the desertion rate of the army of the GMD?
70%
Yellow River flood
1938 KMT implements flood to slow down Japanese forces, kills 400,000-500,000 from drowning, famine and plague.
Changsha fire
1938 KMT burns Changsha to prevent Japanese benefitting from its capture, 30,000 deaths
HUAC
House Un-American Activities Committee created 1938 to investigate suspected communists
McCarthyism
The practice of accusing people of being communists without evidence. Roots from Joe McCarthy who believed there were Soviet spies in the government (after USSR A-bomb test) and made a fake list of communists
Effects of McCarthyism
Caused red scare in US where political rights were violated in the name of national security, companies imposed political tests on workers and suspected communists were jailed
When was the Defensive Perimeter Strategy adopted?
1949
What were the reasons for adopting the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?
To protect trade from Chinese and Soviet navies, stop communism, protect model states, to make up for military weakness, attack China if needed and to save money
What was the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?
A defensive line of US military bases
Why was it important to protect trade in the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?
It contained many of the raw resources the US used- rubber, tin, petrol and timber and feared it would come into communist control
What bases were later added to the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?
Korea, Taiwan, Indochina
What was the NSC-68 and when was it?
1950 Briefing of the National Security Council which suggested the tripling of America’s defense budget to build up military presence to deter the Soviets
What were consequences of the NSC-68?
Prevented a military solution to the Cold War for the USSR and led to full-scale military intervention in Asia.
When was the first Soviet A bomb testing?
1949
When was the Red Scare in the US?
1950-54
What caused the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations?
Khrushchev believed Stalin was a criminal; Mao, who knew and modeled himself after Stalin, disagreed. Additionally, China wanted an atomic bomb to be seen as a superpower but the USSR didn’t want to help.
What was the Great Leap Forward?
1958-61 Mao’s attempt to break China free of Soviet dependence by industrialisation. Steel and grain production emphasised.
What was wrong with the Great Leap Forward?
Crops placed close together = bad harvest, people not allowed to leave their areas, crops left to rot = famine, disapproval led to your death.
Nikita Khrushchev
First secretary of the USSR 1953-64
How many people were killed in 1958 in disagreement with the Great Leap Forward?
5000
Who was the premier of the CCP?
Zhou Enlai
Great Cultural Revolution
1966 Wanted to purge traditional, capitalist roots of China. Youth group called the Red Guards beat Mao’s political opponents.
Ping-pong diplomacy
US ping-pong team visits Japan and receives an invite to China. At the time, China was in isolation and only athletes could travel there.
Nixon’s visit to China
1972 Mao invites Nixon to visit China. First time American officials went to China in 22 years. Improved Sino-American relations.