Communism in Asia Flashcards
When did the Soviets first successfully test atomic bombs?
August 1949, 3 years ahead of US expectations
What happened in October 1949?
Mao Zedong officially announced that People’s Republic of China (PRC) successfully took over China, marking start of communism
What does NSC 68 stand for?
National Security Council Report 68
What was NSC 68?
NSC 68 was a secret document in Truman’s new policy towards USSR written in early 1950’s that addressed how the USA viewed the world and how Truman planned to respond to the Soviet threat
According to NSC 68 how did the USA view the world?
- USSR= aimed for world domination, starting with Europe and Asia
- USA had slashed military expenses since 1945, but Soviets still spent lavishly= imbalance
- By 1948, USA spent $10.9 billion, USSR spent $13.1 billion
According to NSC 68 how did Truman plan to respond to Soviet threat?
- US be prepared to engage in limited war to stop spread of communism
- US responsibility to provide political + economical model alternatives to communism
Long term cause of Korean War
1910-1945, Korea was controlled by Japan however after, the country was divided into North (USSR) and South (USA)
Medium term causes of Korean War
-1949, SK gov was weak as it was unpopular and heavily relied on US troops
-As USA and USSR withdrew forces from Korea, Kim II-Sung thought SK gov could be easily over thrown
Short term causes of Korean War
-1950, USA refused to give aid to SK
-Led to II-Sung to believe Americans wouldn’t stop spread of communism invasion in SK
-II-Sung persuaded Stalin to agree to a NK invasion to SK
What happened in June 1950?
Kim II-Sung ordered troops to invade SK, with the backing of Stalin
US reaction to outbreak of Korean War
- US= evidence of USSR wanting world domination
- Truman criticised and under pressure for doing “too little” to stop spread of communism
- Truman= appealed to UN as it would be international forces and not just USA
- UN dispatched an international forces, headed by US General, Douglas MacArthur
Impact of Korean War on relations
- Shifted focus from Europe to Asia
- Limited success= USA contained communism but failed to roll back
- Limited failure= US spent 3x as much in military spending from 1950-1955
- Communism in NK but they failed to extend their territory
What and when was Phase 1 in Korean War?
June- August 1950, NK armies invaded SK and took over Seoul (Capital City )
What and when was Phase 2 in Korean War?
September 1950, in early September, UN forces landed in SK and pushed NK army back into the boarders of NK and SK
What and when was Phase 3 in Korean War?
September- November 1950, UN forces ‘rolled back’ capturing Pyongyang (Capital City of NK). In October, forces started to heading into Yalu River (border with China)
What and when was Phase 4 in Korean War?
-November- December 1950
-Nov 1950- China joined Korean War fighting for North Korea
-Mao feared UN would invade China if they defeated NK.
-They had a combined force of 350,000 communist troops and pushed UN back to the border
What and when was Phase 5 in Korean War?
-Jan 1951- July 1953
-MacArthur advised Truman to use nuclear weapons against China
-However Truman refused because of massive retaliation
-Two side signed an Armistice in July 1953, where they remained divided
When was the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance?
February 1950
Why was the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance created?
-PRC was isolated as it was a communist state
-However, there were multiple ideological similarities between USSR and China
-1949, Mao flew to Russia to get a powerfully ally
-Although USSR gained less from the agreement, USSR needed to rebuild its economy
What were the terms of the Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance?
- Military alliance= against ‘Japanese militarism’ (Capitalist nations)
- Friendship= USSR granted a loan $300 million and equipment for 50 major construction projects
- Mutual Assistance= joint stock company to mine, helped China set up and run 141 businesses, China recognised USSR’s rights over Outer Mongolia
China Lobby- Impact on US Government policies
Led to Truman’s change in policies to contain communism in Asia:
- Taiwan- 7th fleet to discourage Chinese invasion
- Philippines- mid 1950, Melby agreed to send military aid against communism
- French- Battling communism in Vietnam (finance + military)
- South Korean- UN, US troops
Creation of China Lobby in the USA
-At first America had no interest in South East Asia
-However, the treaty of friendship led to the China Lobby
-Politicians involved in the Chia Lobby believed Truman’s lack of interest in Asia
-Led to Sino-Soviet’s, which created a renewed interest in China
Significance of Treaty of Friendship, Alliance and Mutual Assistance
- 6x increase in Sino- Soviet trade from 1950-56
- 1956, 60% of China’s trade conducted with USSR
- Through loans, trades and training it helped ready lay the foundation for China’s economic development
What did Archeson’s White paper on China conclude and when was this?
1949, it attempted to justify USA’s withdrawal from direct military support for Jiang Jieshi
Why did the USSR help Kim II-Sung in 1949?
- Korea was not involved in American ‘Defensive Perimeter Strategy’
- PRC had control over China
Who was the South Korean leader in 1949?
Syngman Rhee
What was the guerrilla action?
It was irregular military actions such as harassment or sabotage by small usually independent forces used in Vietnam
How did Stalin help the NK in 1949?
-16,000 pieces of artillery
-178 troops
-258 T-34 tanks
However, Stalin was not prepared to commit troops
What was the Defensive Perimeter Strategy?
Created by Archeson in 1949
-Defined that the Pacific line running through Japan, the Ryukyus and the Philippines needed to be in favour of the US
-To protect itself
-Guaranteed US military protection to SK and Taiwan
When was the ‘New Look’ policy and what did it state?
Created by Eisenhower in 1953, that emphasised nuclear deterrence to military forces
- Massive retaliation
- Military budget costs and expansion of nuclear budget
- Using alliances (NATO) and covert ops (CIA)
What was Indochina?
Referred to Cambodia, Loas and Vietnam; all of these countries had been French colonies prior to the Geneva Conference of 1954
What was the domino theory and when was it?
Created in 1954 and it stated that if one country falls into communism, then its neighbouring countries will also fall into communism like dominos
When was the Geneva Conference and what was agreed?
1954
-France agreed to withdraw - end colonialism
-Vietnam divided from 17th parallel (short tern, meant to be a national election in 2 years to reunify but it never happened)
-Loas and Cambodia, recognised as independent states
What was the Land Reform Campaign?
When NV’s land was seized from landlords and redistributed to peasants, increasing loyalty to the government
What led to the downfall of Diem?
-Diem was corrupt and nepotistic leader
-His policies were diverse and damaging
-Large US economical trade were taken fraudulently by Diem, his officials and his family
-Focused on repression and oppression of rivals
What was Vietcong (VC) and National Liberation Front (NLF)?
-NLF was a political group founded in 1960
-Opposed leadership of Diem
-Were not communist at the beginning
-Quickly got dominated by loyal VC
-Were critical in the success of communist success in SV against USA and SV army
What did the decision not to hold national elections force Ho Chi Minh to do
He had to concentrate on communist control in north Vietnam
What was the land reform programme
Seized private owned land and redistributed it among the rural farming population
Strategic hamlet program
Was introduced in 1962 through operation sunrise
Aimed to create armed stockades which would have south Vietnamese rural peasants
A form of forced re location-sept 1962=4million people in strategic hamlets. End of 1962-3000 hamlets
Why was the strategic hamlet a failure
Led to improved recruitment of peasants to viet cong( the opposite of their aim)
Was impossible to isolate Vietcong agents from hamlets
