Taiwan strait crisis Flashcards
What were the Taiwan Strait Crises?
The Taiwan Strait Crises (1954–55 and 1958) were critical Cold War confrontations between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan), with U.S. involvement in supporting Taiwan.
What was the significance of the Taiwan Strait Crises?
The crises highlighted the tensions of the Cold War in Asia and brought superpowers to the brink of direct conflict, including the threat of nuclear war.
What was the U.S. commitment regarding Taiwan?
The U.S. commitment to defend Taiwan and its offshore islands was a key element of containment policy in Asia, aimed at preventing communist expansion.
What initiated the First Taiwan Strait Crisis?
The PRC began shelling the offshore islands of Kinmen and Matsu, held by the ROC, aiming to force their surrender.
How did the U.S. respond to the First Taiwan Strait Crisis?
The U.S. signed the Mutual Defense Treaty with the ROC in 1954, pledging support to Taiwan but not explicitly to the offshore islands.
What was a key military action during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis?
The U.S. Seventh Fleet escorted ROC supply convoys to the islands, ensuring their resupply despite heavy bombardment.
What contingency plans did the U.S. prepare during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis?
The Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles prepared plans including potential nuclear weapon use if the islands fell.
What was the long-term impact of the Taiwan Strait Crises?
The crises entrenched the division between the PRC and ROC, setting the stage for ongoing cross-strait tensions that persist today.
How did the Taiwan Strait Crises influence U.S. military policy?
The crises reinforced U.S. policy of military alliances and forward deployment in Asia as part of global containment.
