US-Taiwan Relations During The Korean War

The Korean War in the 1950s to a certain extent can be said to be the origin of the Taiwan issue and it is an opportunity for the United States to change the policy on Taiwan. Before the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States had planned to escape from Taiwan out of self-interest, while after the outbreak of the Korean War, the United States changed the previous policy on Taiwan and sent the seventh fleet to the Taiwan strait so as to neutralize Taiwan and interference in China’s internal affairs. The United States increased the economic aid to Taiwan and restored military assistance to Taiwan which was once interrupted during the war. About one year after the end of The Korean War, the United States signed a mutual defense treaty. In this thesis, it will explore the US-Taiwan relations during the war based on three important problems related to it, that is, the issue of sending troops, the issue of American aids to Taiwan and the issue of the Peace Treaty for Japan.This thesis consists of three parts, that is, introduction, body and conclusion.The introduction part summarizes the research results on US-Taiwan relations during the Korean War by the domestic and foreign scholars. Based on this, in this part, the author points out the problems and deficiencies on it, and then puts forward the research value of this thesis and writing ideas. Besides, some English and Chinese documents are also given in it.In terms of the body part, it is made up of three chapters. Chapter one mainly discusses the issue of Taiwan sending troops into North Korea during the Korean War. After the outbreak of the Korean War, the Taiwan authorities put forward the suggestion of sending troops into Korean War to the United States. However, out of fear of the Chinese communist party and Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), and out of consider the Allies attitude and out of distrust of the army of Kuo Min Tang (KMT), the United States rejected the suggestion of sending troops from Chiang kai-shek, but at the same time increased the economic aid to Taiwan and restored military assistance to Taiwan which was once interrupted. Although at first Chiang kai-shek felt annoyed with the US’decision, the arrival of the economic aid and military assistance to some extent eased the contradiction between two sides, and strengthened the connection between them objectively.Chapter two mainly touches upon the issue of U.S. aids to Taiwan during the Korean War. During the Chinese civil war, the United States once provided the Kuo Min Tang (KMT) authorities with nearly $3 billion aid, but in December 1949, the Kuo Min Tang (KMT) authorities retreated to Taiwan, which made the United States government disappointed at Chiang kai-shek. After weighing the advantages and disadvantages, the United States interrupted military assistance to Taiwan and also reduced the economic aids at the same time. However, with the breakout of the Korean War and the improvement of Taiwan’s status in the Far East, the United States increased the economic aids to Taiwan, and restored the military aids once interrupted, easing the Taiwan authorities’crisis. But American aids was not sent to Taiwan as the United States claimed it. Even before American aids did not arrive, the reforming requirement of the Taiwan authorities from US had sprung up, causing indignation and discontent of the Taiwan authorities. As a result, the crack between the two sides was deepened, making the two sides in crisis of confidence.Chapter three mainly explores the issue of the Peace Treaty for Japan.During the Second World War, China made great contribution and sacrifice to the anti-fascist war as the main battleground of the Anti-Japanese War in Asia. Taiwan authorities took it for granted to join in the Peace Treaty for Japan.However, because of opposition from countries such as Britain and India, the United States ultimately compromised with Britain and reached a precept of London, in which the Taiwan authorities was excluded. Obviously, it caused damage to the status and dignity of Taiwan and Chiang kai-shek thought it a great humiliation to Taiwan. Not solving the problem of status of Taiwan in the Peace Treaty for Japan caused a fatal damage to Taiwan. But due to American pressure, its own difficult situations and dependence on American aids, Japan selected the Taiwan authorities to sign treaty. From this, it could be concluded that the Peace Treaty for Japan did more harm than good on US-Taiwan relations.The conclusion part responds to the questions in the introduction, summarizes this thesis and outlines the trajectory of the US-Taiwan relations during the Korean War.