Korean War Effects on China

To what extent did involvement in the Korean War affect the development of the PRC?

  June 1950 Involvement of UN forces and USA Mao did not want to get involved Worried about American victory leaving China vulnerable to bomb attacks (US would have a base in Korea) → Mao decided to intervene when UN forces went to North Korea Mao manipulated by Stalin (wanted UN, US and China to finish the war so that they don’t waste resources)

The war’s role in enhancing CCP control, suppressing opposition and promoting national unity Political effects at home

Mao took advantage of the outbreak of the war to take extreme measures in China such as: Great Terror against counter-revolutionaries Three antis and five antis Justified by the threat to national security Local leaders were given key roles in organizing the terror Ordinary workers denounced unpopular colleagues Party’s aim was to force foreigners to leave the country Americans branded as counter-revolutionaries Christian missionaries treated harshly Russians remained Propaganda against the Americans Mass meetings in work´places and schools Press focused on anti-American sentiment Student demonstrations on which anti-American slogans were chanted Participants often did not know about the dangers of capitalism or why was the war fought but there was persecution of people who refused to protest, which ensured mass participation People forced to join PLA Donation of money and goods to help to finance the war Farmer’s crops were taken compulsorily Taxes raised Claim that America was using germ warfare against China Widespread fear “Planes dropping cylinders placed with erm infested insects Exhibition to show evidence of claims organized by Party Russians declared Chinese claims false Use of paranoia to justify a campaign to kill the “five pests” (flies, mosquitoes, fleas, bedbugs, rats and dogs) Dogs are seen as a health hazard Keeping pets symbolized bourgeois decadence

Sino-Soviet Treaty, 1950

Mao visited USSR in Stalin’s 70th birthday Showed that he decided to work with the USSR Expected Stalin to cut ties wit GMD

Terms of the Treaty

Negotiated by Zhou Enlai