The Cold War Heats Up: AsiaThe Cold War Heats Up: Asia

What causes the cold war to heat up in Asia?

Chinese Civil War• Started in 1930s, temporarily halted during WW II

• 1945: Civil war restarts

• Nationalists (led by Chiang Kai-Shek) v. Communists (led by Mao-Zedong)

• US must “contain” Communism, will aid Chiang during Civil War

VS

Mao’s Red Army (CCP) vs. Chiang’s Nationalist Army (KMT)Mao’s Red Army (CCP) vs. Chiang’s Nationalist Army (KMT)

• 1945: US gives $2 billion to help Nationalists beat Communists– Nationalists winning at first but China’s economy worsens

• US money is poorly spent & people are upset with Nationalists– Nationalists troops begin defecting to Red Army

• 1949: Mao controls most of China, creates “People’s Rep. Of China”

• Chiang & his army flee to island Taiwan, set up “Republic of China”

* “Loss of China” = containment policy fails• Stalin & Mao request UN seat be given to PRC, US vetoes

Battle for Korea

[1950-1953]Democratic

People’s Republic of

Koreavs.

Republic of Korea

A Country Divided• Arguments over future of Korea

• UN decides to split country at 38th Parallel– Two countries form, N. Korea & S. Korea

• US sends money to S. Korea

• Soviets send weapons to N. Korea’s leader Kim Il-Sung

Stalin encourages Kim to invade S. Korea, says Truman won’t risk war

After NK crosses 38th Parallel, Truman urges UN to take action!

On a day when Soviets are boycotting UN, Sec. Council votes to use troops in Korea

The Korean War [1950-1953]

1. North Korea crosses 38th Parallel on June 25th

2. North Korea takes over almost entire peninsula

3. MacArthur arrives with UN army – push NK to China

4. Mao’s Chinese army enters War – pushes UN back into South Korea

1 432

MacArthur’s SolutionMacArthur’s Solution

• Urges Truman to drop an a-bomb on China

• Truman says goal is to get NK out of SK, can’t expand the war

• MacArthur publicly criticizes Truman to Press & Congress

• Truman fires MacArthur – costs Truman support

Korean War StalemateKorean War Stalemate

• War is going back and forth, Truman popularity at 25% in 1952• 1952: Truman doesn’t run for re-election – Dwight Eisenhower

wins presidency• July 1953: an armistice is signed, ending war• Communism contained in South Korea