Events in Asia Flashcards
(26 cards)
When was the communist revolution in China?
1949
How did China become communist?
After a brutal civil war, Mao declared victory over the Nationalists (previously ruled the country) who retreated to Taiwan.
Why was China becoming communist significant?
The most populous country in the world had become communist.
How did Stalin respond to China becoming communist?
- immediately recognised Mao and the Communists as the rightful government of china
- the two nations signed the Treaty of Friendship
What was the Treaty of Friendship?
$300 million in aid would be sent to China
- 95% would need to be repaid at a high rate of interest
- most of it had to be spent on Soviet goods
8000 Chinese students could travel to the USSR to study science and technology
20,000 Soviet experts were sent to help the development of China
- much of their advice seemed to benefit the USSR rather than China
China agreed to give two of its major ports to the USSR and to guve the Soviets the right to mine in the Xinjiang territory
How did the West respond to the communist takeover in China?
- refused to recognise the new government and argued that the government in Taiwan were the rightful rulers
- USA increased funding to Japan and other countries in Asia to try to combat the threat of communism in those countries
What did the West see Mao’s victory as?
- a failure of the Truman Doctrine and the policy of containment
- a victory for Stalin, who now had much more influence
- a threat to the rest of Asia
When was the Korean War?
1950-53
Why were tensions increasing Korea?
- Korea had been divided at the Potsdam Conference
- one side was led by an American-backed leader and the other was a Soviet-trained politician
- both leaders hoped to unite Korea under their leadership
Who was the leader of South Korea in 1950?
Syngman Rhee
Who was the leader of North Korea in 1950?
Kim Il Sung
Describe the events leading up to the North’s invasion of the South.
- Kim asked Stalin to help him invade the South
- Stalin agreed to provide weapons and equipment but not troops
- the USA already had troops stationed in the South
- North Korean troops invaded South Korea
How did the UN respond to the North’s invasion?
- the USA asked the UN to call for a ceasefire
- with the USSR boycotting the UN, they couldn’t veto the motion
- this meant the UN voted for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops
How did North Korea respond to the UN’s call for ceasefire? What did this then cause the UN to do?
- their troops remained
- so the UN sent troops to support Rhee’s government
Describe the events during the Korean War.
September
- USA-led forces landed in Incheon
- they drove the North Koreans back to the 38th Parallel
October
- Chinese troops helped to push the Americans back
- they took control of Seoul
June
- by this point, the war had reached stalemate
July
- a final ceasefire was agreed
- North and South were divided in almost exactly the same place as when the war started
Who was General MacArthur? When and why was he dismissed?
General MacArthur was commanding the American troops.
He was dismissed in April 1951 after calling for the use of a nuclear weapon.
What were the consequences of the Korean War?
- showed that the USA were willing to go to war in order to contain communism
- showed the power the USA had with the UN
- it became the 1st proxy war of the Cold War
- the dismissal of MacArthur shoed the USA did not want direct conflict with the USSR or to use nuclear weapons
- the USSR were equally keen to avoid direct conflict with the USA
Who was Vietnam under the control of before WW2 and what did those in the colony want post-WW2?
- Indochina (includes Vietnam) was a French colony
- after WW2 many who lived in Indochina did not want the French back to rule them
How did the French respond to Vietnam declaring independence?
- they resisted
- but later withdrew from Vietnam following defeat at the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954
How was Vietnam split following the French’s defeat?
2 zones:
- Northern zone - governed by the Viet Minh
- Southern zone - governed by and anti-communist government led by Diem
What was Domino Theory?
The idea that if one country fell to communism, the ideology would spread to nearby countries.
It was devised by the US government in the early 1950s.
What did Eisenhower initially do upon the division of Vietnam and why?
- he wanted to avoid conflict so established the New Look policy
- he sent money, equipment and military and political experts to South Vietnam
- to help the country become secure
What was the Vietcong and what was its aim?
- set up in 1960
- the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam
- its aim was to overthrow Diem
What was the trail that the Vietcong established to get weapons to the rebels from North Vietnam called?
Ho Chi Minh trail
