US containment in Asia 1949-55

Question 1

What was the USAs reverse course 1947 to Japan and what did it involve?

Answer 1

In 1947, the USA introduced its reverse course towards Japan. This policy meant that the USA was not focused on the punishment of Japan with the seizure of harsh levels of reparations but instead it wanted the development of firm democratic institutions and practices towards an emphasis on economic reconstruction as the route by which political would be achieved. Economic stabilisation was a central element of the USA’s plan for post war Europe and it included:
-A more efficient taxation system
-price controls and wage controls
-increased regulation of trade and foreign exchange
-a balanced budget and stricter lending criteria
This made sure that the focus of reconstruction accelerated economic recovery in order to align Japan with the USA and its capitalist economics system.

Question 2

What did the USA demand Japan join and why?

Answer 2

The USA demanded that Japan join the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which strengthened Japan’s access to Western trade but it also prevented trade with communist China from 1950s.

Question 3

When was the San Francisco Peace Treaty?

Answer 3

September 1951

Question 4

What were the results of the San Francisco Peace Treaty 1951?

Answer 4

The 1951 treaty did:
-recognise the full sovereignty of the Japanese people
-force Japan to renounce any claims to a wide range of neighbouring territories, including Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), the Kurile Islands, the Spratly Islands and the parcel islands.
The treaty did not though:
-Place significant restrictions on Japan’s economy
-Identify Japan’s responsibility for the war or restrict Japan’s rearmament

However, the USSR and China refused to sign.

Question 4

When was the US-Japan Security Treaty?

Answer 4

1951

Question 5

What was stated at the US- Japan Security Treaty?

Answer 5

This was a bilateral security agreement which gave the USA:
-unrestricted use of military bases in Japan and the right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states
-administrative control of Owkinawa (Japanese island)
-the right to use military force to intervene in any internal disorder in Japan

Question 6

Japans Rearmament

Answer 6

MacArthur ordered Japan to establish a 75,000 strong National Police Reserve (NPR) to be trained by a US military advisory team. In August 1952, the Japanese government established a force of 110,000 ground troops and 7600 maritime personnel, collectively known as the National Safety Agency (NSA). By November 1952, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff announced plans for a Japanese air force. The Eisenhower administration took office in 1953 and it was apparent that Dulles (Secretary of state) wanted to enlarge Japanese ground force. By July 1954, it was agreed that a new 140,000 strong Self Defence Force should be created, supported by US funding of $240 million and the sake if US agricultural Surplus to Japan

Question 7

When did the Chinese Communist Party announce its allegiance to the USSR?

Answer 7

1949

Question 8

What was defined in the White Paper 1949?

Answer 8

The USAs strategy towards China was defined in the China White Paper 1949. Dean Acheson and George Marshall successor as secretary of state was committed to supporting the KMT secretly in Taiwan. Acheson wanted the USA to do nothing that could reinforce a Sino-Soviet alliance. In Acheson’s White Paper On China (30th July 1949), the USA attempted to justify its withdrawal from direct military support for Jiang Jieshi.

Question 9

What was the Defensive Perimeter Strategy and when was it defined.

Answer 9

It focused on the military security of the pacific where they defended it against communist expansion. Argued that the military defence of Japan was the responsibility of the USA. This would be achieved in the first instance by creating “a defensive perimeter”. Achesons defensive perimeter was critised for placing Korea into the defensive cordon but despite this, the USA was committed to protecting South Korea from communist expansion which became evident in 1950.

Question 10

When was the Sino Soviet Treaty of Friendship?

Answer 10

1959

Question 11

What was NSC-68 and why did it emerge?

Answer 11

In September 1949, the USSR tested its own atomic bomb. In addition, Trumans so called “Loss of China” triggered a fundamental review of the USAs strategic objectives and priorities. This review emerged in the form of the National Security Council Resolution 68 (NSC-68). NSC-68 stressed the urgency of building the USAs political, economic and military power. It was focused on the globalisation of the cold war and there was a powerful military emphasis on the application of containment.

Question 12

What happened to Korea at Potsdam in 1945?

Answer 12

At Potsdam in August 1945, the Korean peninsula was taken from Japanese control and divided into two zones of occupation. The division was the 38th parallel with the Soviet zone to the North and the American zone to the South.

Question 13

What zones were created in Korea in 1968?

Answer 13

In August 1968, the USA orchestrated the creation of the capitalist Republic of Korea from its zone whilst in September 1948, the Soviet Union undertook a similar process by creating the North into the (communist) Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Question 14

Who was Kim Il Sung and what did he want and control?

Answer 14

Emerged as chairman of the Korean Provisional Peoples committee which acted as a provisional communist government. The Soviets were determined to avoid any form of coalition that included non-communist groups. Was committed to using force as the vehicle to achieve unification which began with the development of guerilla action by the North which aimed to destabilise the South and undermine Rhees regime. He developed a strategy based on winning external support. He wanted to use the collective power of the communist world in order to increase the Norths strength against South Korea and its western allies

Question 15

Who was Syngman Rhee and what did he control and want?

Answer 15

emerged as the USAs anti-communist leader as the USA wanted a provisional government in South Korea that would be made up on anti-Communist representatives. Rhee was a nationalist that wanted to unite Korea without communism in any form. Rhee needed a guarantee from the USA that it would protect South Korea from an attack from the North and provide military aid to enable the South Korean army to enforce the national reunification of Korea.

Question 16

When was the Korean war?

Answer 16

1950-53

Question 17

What were the 4 stages of the Korean war and what happened?

Answer 17

The war essentially consisted of 4 phases:
Phase 1: June-September 1950 (offensive)
-Forces of the Democratic Peoples of Korea advanced into the South. Through the UN, 29 states committed to military, economic or medical aid.
Phase 2: September-November 1950 (counter offensive/offensive)
-MacArthur landed at Incheon and succeeded in forcing North Korean forces back across the 38th parallel. In October, Mao sent 300,000 Chinese troops across the Yalu River into North Korea which led to a major counter-attack against the UN forces.
Phase 3: December 1950-June 1951:
-By January, Chinese forces had pushed across the 38th parallel and captured Seoul. In Feb, the UN condemned China as an aggressor. MacArthur believed that US forces should push into North Korea and engage the Chinese, and use air strikes and nuclear weapons against them. MacArthur was dismissed by Truman in April. MacArthur wanted to commit the USA to a struggle for the reunification but Truman feared an extension of the war.
-By June, the USA was indicating to China and the USSR of its willingness to negotiate a ceasefire.
Phase 4: June 1951-July 1953:
-The lack of UN action convinced Mao and Stalin that there was a genuine desire for a peace settlement. The USA had consolidated its relationship with Japan and felt more secure in its involvement with the far east.

Question 18

What did the Panmunjom Armistice Agreement confirm?

Answer 18

There was to be a military demarcation line with a demilitarised zone of two kilometres on eachside. This line was roughly that of the 38th parallel. All military forces should be withdrawn to their respective territories.

Question 19

What were the impacts of the Korean war?

Answer 19

-The long term security of both North and South Korea was protected. A condition of this security was that no further warfare would take place on the Korean peninsula.
-the long term security of Taiwan was guaranteed by the USA.
-The war placed a huge economic pressure on the USSR and this led to Stalin accelerating the industrialisation of Eastern Europe which led to a massive reduction in the availability of consumer goods.
-According to NSC-68 the USA would encourage nations resisting Soviet political aggression and as a result containment was globalised.
-The Korean war was described as a ‘limited war’ in the sense that its purpose was to restore the status quo through the prevention of the spread of communism into South Korea. Although it appeared to achieve this objective, the USA was now committed to ensuring that any further spread of communism in the far east was not achieved.
-The war had also led to the strengthening of military resources in Western Europe. Western Germany was allowed to rearm and the prospect of an early solution to the long term future of Germany was lost.