Conflict in Asia Flashcards
What was Korea split into when the japanese empire was invaded?
North Korea ( under the influence of ussr) and South Korea (under the influence of the USA)
What is the Truman Doctrine?
President Harry S. Truman established that the United States would provide political, military and economic assistance to all democratic nations under threat from external or internal authoritarian forces.
What was the Marshall plan?
The Marshall Plan was an American initiative enacted in 1948 to provide foreign aid to Western Europe. The United States transferred $13.3 billion in economic recovery programs to Western European economies after the end of World War II. The goals of the United States were to rebuild war-torn regions, remove trade barriers, modernize industry, improve European prosperity and prevent the spread of communism.
What was domino theory?
An American idea that if one country fell to communism, others would follow - like a row of dominoes.
What was the policy of containment?
An American policy to try and stop communism from spreading, to restrict it from spreading to other countries.
How was Korea divided?
After World War Two, Korea had been divided at the
38th parallel
into the Soviet-backed communist North Korea, led by Kim Il Sung, and non-communist, American-backed South Korea under the leadership of Syngman Rhee.
Why did north Korea invade south Korea?
North Korea aimed to militarily conquer South Korea and therefore unify Korea under the communist North Korean regime.
What is a proxy war?
Groups (or countries) fighting on behalf of a larger nation, without that nation actively participating in the conflict.
What is a superpower?
Countries who have huge influence or strength, giving them significant global power such as the USA or USSR.
What is a veto?
a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action.
Why was China not in the UN?
USA blocked its access as the US was anti communist and regarded the nationalists of the rightful government of China. This lead to the USSR protesting against the UN. The USA was the biggest contributor to the UN budget and was therefore in a powerful position to influence the UN decision.
Why did China join the war?
The Americans didn’t stop at the 38th parallel meaning that China would get pressured and the counter attacked.
What was clear that MacArthur and Truman wanted?
To remove communism from Korea entirely.
Why was MacArthur sacked?
Truman felt that his decision was just because MacArthur had overstepped his authority, defied direct orders from his superior and interfered with Truman’s hope of ending the Korean War quickly.
What was the Korean War, and what were its key outcomes?
Causes:
Post-WWII division at 38th parallel (Soviet-backed North vs. U.S.-backed South).
June 1950: North Korea (Kim Il-sung) invaded South, prompting UN intervention (led by U.S.).
Key Events:
1950: North nearly conquered South; UN forces pushed back after Inchon landing.
1951–53: Stalemate near 38th parallel; brutal trench warfare.
Chinese intervention (1950): 300,000+ troops pushed UN forces back.
Outcomes:
Armistice (1953): Korea remained divided; no peace treaty.
2.5M+ dead (mostly civilians); US-Soviet tensions worsened.
North Korea became isolated Stalinist state; South Korea later industrialized.
Why was China’s intervention in the Korean War a turning point?
Saved North Korea:
300,000+ PLA troops pushed UN forces back from Yalu River, preventing collapse of Kim Il-sung’s regime.
Escalated the War:
Turned conflict into a Sino-American war; prolonged fighting for 2+ years.
U.S. considered nuclear strikes (Truman vs. MacArthur debates).
Cold War Implications:
Cemented China as a communist power; Mao gained Stalin’s trust.
U.S. saw China as a Soviet proxy, leading to Taiwan policy (defending ROC) and isolation of PRC.
Human Cost:
400,000+ Chinese deaths (many from frostbite/UN air raids).
POW camps became propaganda battlegrounds (defections, brainwashing claims).
Legacy: Demonstrated China’s military resolve; set stage for later tensions (e.g., Vietnam War).
Quote: “We will intervene if the Americans cross the 38th parallel.” – Zhou Enlai (1950 warning).
How did the Korean War impact the major involved nations?
- Korea (North & South)
North Korea (DPRK):
Stalinist dictatorship solidified under Kim Il-sung.
Economy ruined; permanent militarization (today’s “Garrison State”).
South Korea (ROK):
US-backed dictatorship (Syngman Rhee); later industrialized (1980s–).
5M+ casualties (10% of population); Seoul destroyed twice.
- United States
Military Policy:
Permanent military presence in Korea (28,500 troops today).
Containment doctrine expanded (Vietnam, Taiwan).
Political:
MacArthur fired (1951) for defying Truman; civil-military tensions.
- China (PRC)
Global Standing:
Proved military power (“Victory” vs. US).
Isolated until Nixon (1972); USSR relations later soured.
Domestic:
800,000+ casualties; economic strain
What was Dien Bien Phu, and why was it a turning point in Cold War history?
First Indochina War (1946–54): Vietnamese Việt Minh (led by Hồ Chí Minh and General Giáp) vs. French colonial forces
The Battle (March–May 1954):
Việt Minh siege: 50,000+ troops with Chinese-supplied artillery surrounded 15,000 French troops.
Key tactics:
Tunnels/camouflage hid guns; human-wave assaults.
French air supply failed (monsoon rains, anti-air fire).
Outcome: French surrendered (May 7); 2,200 dead, 11,000 POWs (many died in captivity).
Global Impact:
Ended French colonialism in Asia → Geneva Accords (1954) split Vietnam at 17th parallel.
US involvement ↑: Saw Vietnam as next Cold War domino (Eisenhower’s “Domino Theory”).
Decolonization wave: Inspired Algerian War (1954–62) vs. France.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and why was it significant?
Event (August 1964):
Alleged attacks: USS Maddox reported North Vietnamese torpedo boat attacks (August 2 and fabricated August 4 incident).
Later revealed: No second attack occurred; NSA distorted evidence.
U.S. Response:
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (passed August 7, 1964):
Granted LBJ unlimited military power in Vietnam (“take all necessary measures”).
Led to full-scale U.S. war (500,000+ troops by 1968).
Legacy:
Turning point: Escalated U.S. involvement; sparked anti-war movement.
Deception exposed: 2005 NSA declassified files confirmed false reports.
Quote: “We were sailing in, looking for trouble.” — USS Maddox crew member (later admission).
What were the strategic and ideological goals of North Vietnam (DRV) during the Vietnam War?
Unification Under Communism
Primary Objective: Reunify Vietnam under Hồ Chí Minh’s communist rule (Geneva Accords, 1954, had temporarily split Vietnam at 17th parallel).
“Liberate the South”: Remove U.S.-backed Ngô Đình Diệm (later Nguyễn Văn Thiệu) regime.
Expel Foreign Influence
Anti-Colonialism: Viewed U.S. as successor to French imperialists (defeated at Dien Bien Phu, 1954).
Nationalist Cause: Framed war as resistance to foreign occupation (rallying peasant support).
What was Operation Rolling Thunder, and why did it fail to achieve U.S. objectives?
- Overview
Duration: March 1965 – November 1968 (longest U.S. bombing campaign to date).
Goal: Force North Vietnam (DRV) to negotiate by destroying infrastructure, supply routes (Ho Chi Minh Trail), and morale.
- Scale
Sorties: 300,000+ missions; dropped 864,000 tons of bombs (exceeded WWII Pacific theater). - Failures
Resilient DRV: Used tunnels, decentralized industry.
Ho Chi Minh Trail: Jungle supply routes never fully cut; repaired faster than bombed.
Civilian Impact: Killed 52,000+ North Vietnamese civilians; boosted DRV propaganda.
“We dropped more bombs on Vietnam than all sides did in World War II—and lost.” — Historian George Herring
What is imperialism
A policy of extending a nation’s power through territorial conquest, economic domination, or political control over other regions/peoples.
How did the U.S. employ chemical weapons during the Vietnam War, and what were the consequences?
Agent Orange
Purpose: Defoliant to destroy jungle cover (Ho Chi Minh Trail) and crops.
Scale: Sprayed 20M gallons over 4.5M acres.
Effects:
Ecological: 10% of South Vietnam’s forests devastated.
Human: 400,000+ deaths/disabilities from dioxin (cancer, birth defects).
- Napalm
Purpose: Incendiary weapon to flush out Viet Cong.
Infamous Image: “Napalm Girl” (1972) shocked global audiences
What were search and destroy raids, and why were they controversial?
U.S. Strategy: Offensive sweeps to locate and eliminate Viet Cong (VC) fighters and supply bases.
Tactics:
Helicopter insertions + ground patrols in VC-held areas.
“Body count” as success metric (led to inflated reports/civilian targeting).
- Key Operations
Operation Cedar Falls (1967): Destroyed Iron Triangle tunnels (3,000+ VC killed).
Operation Junction City (1967): Largest airborne assault since WWII (failed to crush VC).
