Reducing the American burden: Kennedy's policy toward Northeast Asia (John F. Kennedy, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea)

This dissertation examines the policy of John F. Kennedy's government toward Northeast Asia, defined here as the PRC, Taiwan, (Republic of China), Japan, and South Korea. The dissertation is anchored in research conducted in archival collections housed at the JFK Library, Harvard, the National Archives, and Library of Congress.; This study analyzes the ways by which Kennedy and his policy planners tried to reduce the scale and cost of U.S. burdens in Northeast Asia. The major findings are these: (1) China: China specialists in the administration kept close watch on the developing Sino-Soviet rift, and devised means for eventually improving Sino-U.S. relations. To this end, speeches by U.S. officials mentioned possible food aid for China. Ambassadorial talks between China and the United States were encouraged—indeed intensified—by Washington. These talks helped ease Sino-U.S. tension during the June 1962 crisis in the Taiwan Straits. As for China's nuclear program: Kennedy's government tried to reassure noncommunist East Asian nations that the military implications were not dire, that the Western political-diplomatic position was still steady. (2) Japan: Ambassador Edwin O. Reischauer discouraged “neutralism” among Japan's Marxist oriented intellectuals. He advocated a normalization of relations between Japan and South Korea. He also worked to restore Okinawa to Japan while promoting in Japan a “non-militaristic” image of the United States. Finally, he believed that Japan's trade with China—albeit modest—would help open Beijing to noncommunist influences, especially those emanating from Washington and Tokyo. (3) South Korea: Kennedy's policy toward Seoul concentrated on keeping local communists out of power, encouraging economic development, and fostering democratic reforms. The Americans also tried to quicken South Korea's receptivity to reconciliation with Japan.; In summation: the Kennedy administration hoped to maintain the noncommunist position in Northeast Asia while creating political-diplomatic-economic conditions that would permit the United States to curtail its heavy financial and military costs.