The Significance Of Events In Asia For Superpower Relations Flashcards
The Communist revolution in China, 1949
The Nationalists, who had previously ruled the country, retreated to the island of Taiwan. The most populous country in the world had become communist
China and USSR, what did they do?
Stalin immediately recognised Mao and the Communist’s as the rightful government of China and the Treaty of friendship was signed by the two nations
What did the ‘Treaty of Friendship’ include?
- $300 million and eight would be sent to China, 90% of this would need to be repaid and most of it had to be spent on Soviet goods
- 8000 Chinese students could travel to the USSR (to study science and technology)
- China agreed to give two of its major ports to the USSR and to give the Soviets the right to mine in its Xinjiang territory
About the China and the West
In the west, the Communist takeover was seen as a disaster. The west had refused even to recognise the new government, arguing instead that the government in Taiwan should be seen as the rightful rulers
The Korean War 1950-53
The division of Korea, along the 30th parallel, had been agreed at the Potsdam conference
What happened in September 1950
In September 1950, USA lead forces, under the command of General MacArthur and landed at Inchon and drove the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel
What were the consequences, related to the Korean War?
- The Korean War showed that the USA was willing to go in to war in order to keep communism
- it became the first proxy war of the Cold War, as it was an indirect flight between the Soviets and the Americans
The invasion in 1949
- In 1949, Kim asked Stalin to help him invade the cells in 1950 Stalin agreed to provide weapons and equipment but not troops
- The USA already had 7500 troops stationed in the south
- In June 1950 North Korean troops invaded South Korea
What was the Vietnam war?
Indochina was a french colony, but after the Second World War many of those who lived in Indochina didn’t want the French back to rule them
What was the American involvement in Vietnam?
In the early 1950s the USA government devised the Domino theory. It thought that if south Vietnam fell to communism the ideology would spread to nearby countries, and this would continue until Asia was entirely Communist. Countries would fall like dominoes
When did China become a communist?
China became Communist in 1949
The Korean War?
The Korean War was the first proxy war and the first actual conflict of the Cold War
What did the Vietnam war demonstrate?
The Vietnam war demonstrated the USA’s belief in the Domino theory and its commitment to containing communism
