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The Cold War in Asia

The Cold War in Asia. 1945 - 1955. Redefining Asian Power 1945. Power vacuum in Japan filled by US only Nationalists in power in China – Civil War erupts again after common enemy defeated USSR & US backing Nationalists. How to Divide Japanese Territory?. Korea: USSR in North, US in South.

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The Cold War in Asia

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  1. The Cold War in Asia 1945 - 1955

  2. Redefining Asian Power 1945 • Power vacuum in Japan filled by US only • Nationalists in power in China – Civil War erupts again after common enemy defeated • USSR & US backing Nationalists

  3. How to Divide Japanese Territory?

  4. Korea: USSR in North, US in South

  5. USSR makes bid for Asian territory • USSR gains alliance with Sukarno in Indonesia • US occupies Japan • Korea Divided: Kim Il Sung in North • Syngman Rhee in South • Ethnically same; politicially divided “No division of a nation in the present world is so astonishing in its origin as the division of Korea; none is so unrelated to conditions or sentiment within the nation itself at the time the division was effected; none is to this day so unexplained; in none does blunder and planning oversight appear to have played so large a role. Finally, there is no division for which the U.S. government bears so heavy a share of the responsibility as it bears for the division of Korea.” -Gregory Henderson, former U.S. Foreign Service officer and noted Korea scholar, 1974                          

  6. Workers’ revolution Nationalism downplayed Workers can be inspired by communist vanguard Response to historical process (feudalism, capitalism, socialism) Peasant revolution Nationalism used heavily Leaders must respond to peasants before they can be motivated Response to imperialism & landowners; no focus on historical process Russian Communism vs. Chinese Communism

  7. USSR Switches Sides • After Mao wins, Stalin & Mao cautiously make an alliance • Not a great deal for Mao; gives more than he gets • Stalin fears competition as communist leader in East – wants to be top dog

  8. US Reacts to New Balance of Power • US very wary • Despite experts’ understanding, policy-makers see communism as MONOLITHIC • US does not recognize PRC; supports Chiang who has fled to Formosa (Taiwan) • Who will take China’s seat on UN security council?

  9. US Actions in Asia complicated by other (related) issues • NSC-68 • McCarthyism at home • French Indochinese War & Ho Chi Minh • Outbreak of the Korean War

  10. Balance of Power Shifts • 1949 Mao Tse-Tung leads win over Nationalists – The People’s Republic of China is born • US Reaction: • China Lobby is FURIOUS • Blame Truman for “Losing China” • US experts in China understand Mao’s Communism is different than Russian Communism • Now large part of Asia is Communist – changes feeling of US confidence in the Region

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