Topic: Korea - Communist China's Biggest Blunder

IAmFighter · March 11th, 2005

Whispering Death hit the nail on the head. Prior to the start of the Korean War, Truman had identified Japan and the Philippines as being part of the American Pacific defense strategy. Taiwan and South Korea were left out. As such, Mao and Stalin both felt that South Korea could be taken quickly without US intervention. Afterward, Mao would be free to invade the ROC. However, shortly after the NK attack, Truman sent a carrier task force from the US Navy 7th Fleet through the Formosa Strait. Navy fighters even practiced landing on Taiwanese air bases, and I think they might have turned over some aircraft to the ROC Air Force as well, I'm not sure. The message was clear: the United States would defend the Republic of China. Mao's plans were put on hold, and he wouldn't even try to invade until 1957.

March 11th, 2005
IAmFighter Centurion	Whispering Death hit the nail on the head. Prior to the start of the Korean War, Truman had identified Japan and the Philippines as being part of the American Pacific defense strategy. Taiwan and South Korea were left out. As such, Mao and Stalin both felt that South Korea could be taken quickly without US intervention. Afterward, Mao would be free to invade the ROC. However, shortly after the NK attack, Truman sent a carrier task force from the US Navy 7th Fleet through the Formosa Strait. Navy fighters even practiced landing on Taiwanese air bases, and I think they might have turned over some aircraft to the ROC Air Force as well, I'm not sure. The message was clear: the United States would defend the Republic of China. Mao's plans were put on hold, and he wouldn't even try to invade until 1957. __________________ \"The advance of hope in the Middle East requires new thinking in the region. By now it should be clear that authoritarian rule is not the way of the future it is the last gasp of a discredited past. Democracy is their goal and terrorists themselves have reason to fear.\" ~President George W. Bush Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army. ~Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War; shortly afterward, the Marines were ordered to not wear their khaki leggings.