Cold War Confrontations

Chinaand

Korea

CHINA

Communists led by Mao Zedong won the struggle against Chiang Kai-Shek’s pro-west government in 1949.

Chairman Mao created the People’s Republic of China

CHINA

Chiang Kai-Shek retreated to Taiwan-- U.S. recognized that as the official government of China.

Soviets gave Mao support

U.S. considered this a great loss

Sparked need for containment policies in Asia

CHINA

China and the Soviet Union began to split and became rivals in Asia (political and territorial)

U.S. encouraged this split in 1970s

NIXON’S VISIT TO CHINA

1972 President Nixon visited China to ease tensions

Trade increased U.S. is still concerned

about Chinese human rights abuses.

Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to visit China. This photo, from the Great Wall of China, was taken Feb 24.

CHINA TODAY:

China continues to oppress free thought and democracy.

China put down a pro- democracy march at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Communism is fading as U.S. increases its role.

This lone man risked his life to defy tanks during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest. How strongly do you feel about YOUR

rights?

America and Korea:

American involvement in the Korean War in the early 1950s reflected the American

policy of containment of communism.

KOREA

Korea was divided into communist North Korea and pro-west South Korea after WW II

The division line was along the 38th parallel

Korean War Begins:

North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950.

U.N. sanctioned military intervention.

U.S. military forces led the counter attack

Fighting with the 2nd Inf. Div. north of the Chongchon River, Sfc. Major Cleveland, weapons squad leader, points out Communist-led North Korean position to his machine gun crew. Notice that these are INTEGRATED troops?

Korean War:

UN Forces were placed under the command of General MacArthur

UN reached the far north (Yalu River) and threatened China at its border.

Douglas MacArthur’s command was cut short when he was relieved by President Truman after the General publicly criticized the President’s war policies.

Korean War

Chinese forces crossed the river and pushed forces back to 38th Parallel

A stalemate continued for 2 years The war ended with this stalemate South Korea remained “free” and the

Korea is still divided today!

Cuba:

Our Communist Neighbor

Fidel Castro:

Led a communist revolution against the pro-west Batista government in 1959

Many Cubans fled to the U.S. (Miami/ NY)

Castro aligned with the Soviet Union

Bay of Pigs Invasion: 1961

CIA trained Cuban exiles invade to overthrow Castro

Attempt failed miserably-- all dead or captured.

Castro became fearful of future invasions!

Kennedy gave the go-ahead for theinvasion at the Bay of Pigs three months into his presidency. The

plan was a miserable failure.

Cuban Missile Crisis: October, 1962

U.S. discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba

U.S. demanded they be taken out.

Soviets refused and a standoff began

The world was on brink of nuclear war...

A photograph of the missile launch stations in Cuba. This picture was taken by a U-2 spy plane. These

pictures shocked President Kennedy and nearly caused global disaster!

End to the Cuban Missile Crisis

Soviets hesitated (“blinked”) Soviets took down the missiles U.S. apologized for Bay of Pigs and

promised to not invade Cuba. A nuclear war was avoided.

Cuba Today:

Cuba is still a communist nation.

The U.S. continues its trade embargo.

There are still many human rights issues in Cuba.

Will the end of Castro be the end of communist Cuba?