China and the Cold War

1
China and the Cold WarA Second Look

• With their victory in 1949, Communists gained
  control of one-fifth of the worlds people.

2
Background

• After Japans defeat, Communist forces led by Mao
  Zedong fought a civil war and won.
• The defeated Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek
  fled to Taiwan.
• Mao Zedong built a communist one-party
  totalitarian state in the PRC.

3
China the United States

• After Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan, the United
  States supported his Nationalist government as
  the rightful representative of China.
• However, when China split with the USSR, the
  U.S., changed its policy.
• President Nixon visited in 1971
• -1979 formal diplomatic relations were
  established

4
As for China and Taiwan

• Mainland China saw Taiwan as a breakaway province
  and threatened military action when Taiwanese
  politicians proposed declaring the islands formal
  independence.
• In the long term, the mainland government
  insisted that Taiwan be rejoined with China.
  Taiwans government resists such pressure.

5
Korea

• PENINSULA
• BORDERS CHINA
• HAD BEEN AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY UNTIL JAPAN
  CONQUERED IT IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY
• LIKE GERMANY, WAS SPLIT IN TWO BY RIVAL FORCES
  AFTER WW II SO WERE ON OPPOSITE SIDES DURING
  THE COLD WAR
• AFTER JAPANS DEFEAT IN WW II, SOVIET AND
  AMERICAN FORCES AGREED TO TEMPORARILY DIVIDE
  KOREA ALONG THE 38TH PARALLEL.

6
WAR

• IN EARLY 1950, KIM IL SUNG CALLED FOR A HEROIC
  STRUGGLE TO REUNITE KOREA.
• 1950 NORTH KOREAN TROOPS INVADE THE SOUTH.
• U.S. ORGANIZES A UN FORCE TO HELP SOUTH KOREA.
• CHINA BACKS NORTH KOREA REVERSES UN GAINS.

7
KOREAN WAR RESULTS

• TURNED INTO A STALEMATE
• 1953 BOTH SIDES SIGNED AN ARMISTICE, OR END TO
  FIGHTING.
• NEARLY 2 MILLION NORTH SOUTH KOREAN TROOPS DUG
  IN ON EITHER SIDE OF THE DMZ NEAR THE 38TH
  PARALLEL.
• THE ARMISTICE HELD FOR THE REST OF THE COLD WAR.
• NO PEACE TREATY WAS EVER SIGNED!