Victory in the East and the West

okmangeez

okmangeez

american-flag1.jpg


"We are here today to celebrate the end of the Cold War. After decades of hostility and division, the Iron Curtain has fallen. A divided world is once again reunited. This time, we will make sure that every country, and I mean every country, retains the right to govern themselves and be free from oppressors..."

-Speech from Jimmy Carter in 1978 in Berlin of the Federal Republic of Germany

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USS Maddox
Yellow Sea
September 30th, 1950

"So, Premier, do we have a deal?"

The two men were sitting inside a room of the American destroyer of the USS Maddox. The ship was in the middle of the Yellow Sea, in international waters.

The Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai slowly sipped some of his tea. After considering for a moment, he spoke to his translator and the translator translated the Premier's message.

"So you are willing to recognize the People's Republic of China as the legitimate head of mainland China and withdraw your most of your forces immediately after the fall of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. In exchange, you wish for the Chinese government to not intervene in the Korean War."

"Yes, our people have done nothing to your people. I will personally tell General MacArthur to stay away from the northern borders and not to run his army loose on China. We wish the Koreans to be free from communism, but we will not present a threat to your interests." The American man said bluntly, the translator translating it to the Chinese Premier. Secretary of Defense George Marshall pulled out the deal and slid it across the table. "This paper has everything we went over. The moment you agree to sign it, I will travel to Korea and halt MacArthur from going overboard and send the message back to the United States."

"Before I sign this, I will like to add one more thing to this deal." Premier Zhou said.

"What is it?" Marshall replied. He was relieved that the Chinese were willing to sign the deal. This would save countless American lives and possibly halt a bigger a war looming ahead. However, he still gripped the edge of his seat with some nervousness. If the Chinese demanded something impossible, he couldn't agree with their proposal even if he wanted to.

"Even with your promises, China wants additional protection from Korea, should it go democratic and capitalist. I propose to draw a line across Korea in the near future for a Demilitarized Zone between the "Republic" of Korea and the People's Republic of China. This will be a bigger buffer zone between our country and your puppet state. Of course, it'll be a neutral zone, a UN protectorate possibly."

Marshall nearly sighed in relief, but repressed his emotions in front of the Chinese Premier. The demand was reasonable and he would work it out with the government back home. For now, China needed to stay out of the war in order to ensure a UN victory.

"Agreed. Now, let's get this over with."
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America, China Agrees: China To Stay Out of War
New York Times
October 4th, 1950


With the Korean War raging on in the Korean Peninsula, it was expected by many that the Chinese would help out their fellow communists against the US led UN coalition. However, with the recent turn of events, China has vowed to "stay out of the Korean War and remain peaceful to the US and the UN."

This news was revealed after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea) requested military intervention to the People's Republic of China on October 1st of 1950. After furious debates and conflict, the Chinese government rejected the request on October 3rd and ordered the army to stay clear of the border. The news of this shocked the world, especially the Soviet Union which condemned the betrayal of the Chinese.

Shortly after the Chinese replied to the request of the North Koreans, America and China publicly revealed the deal between the two nations. Dubbed the "Korean Deal," the U.S. has agreed to pull out a majority of their forces from Korea after the war, keep a buffer zone between China and Korea, and diplomatically recognize the People's Republic of China as the legitimate government over mainland China. In exchange, the Chinese government agreed to stay out of the Korean War, thus preventing the spread of the conflict.

This deal remains highly controversial, as members of the China lobby erupted in a frenzy at the deal while anti-communist groups erupted in protest over the government's deal with a Communist nation. However, many members of Congress and the general population received the deal with a positive reaction, believing it will save thousands of lives in the destruction that is currently occurring in Korea. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union has condemned China and has apparently broken all diplomatic contact with the nation.

It will be interesting to see how this deal will end up in the footnotes of history...
 
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mr.bernham

mr.bernham

subscribed...I'm predicting a much faster decline of the USSR and China going capitalist in the 70's which ultimately deals a final blow to the USSR.
 

mlp

The Nationalist voting bloc is still strong in the United States House of Congress, there'll definitely be many who view this as "betrayal of former allies" for whatever incompetences the KMT may have shown. Furthermore the PRC is viewed as a strong ally of the USSR at this time, there wasn't the Sino-Soviet split yet. Maybe this is linked with a deal to include two more members to the Security Council as permanent members? Matter of fact, how about just having include both the PRC and ROC while including Brazil?
Also, a 50-mile DMZ is a very large concession by the US, I think a "사십선" instead of a "삼팔선" would be much more agreeable.

NorthKorea-lat-long.jpg
 
okmangeez

okmangeez

zeppelinair said:
The Nationalist voting bloc is still strong in the United States House of Congress, there'll definitely be many who view this as "betrayal of former allies" for whatever incompetences the KMT may have shown. Furthermore the PRC is viewed as a strong ally of the USSR at this time, there wasn't the Sino-Soviet split yet. Maybe this is linked with a deal to include two more members to the Security Council as permanent members? Matter of fact, how about just having include both the PRC and ROC while including Brazil?
Also, a 50-mile DMZ is a very large concession by the US, I think a "사십선" instead of a "삼팔선" would be much more agreeable.

NorthKorea-lat-long.jpg
Click to expand...


Ah, yes. It'll be explained later. However, the Security Council membership is part of this deal...

And yes. I believe you are correct. Maybe at the 41 Parallel.
 

mlp

okmangeez said:
Ah, yes. It'll be explained later. However, the Security Council membership is part of this deal...

And yes. I believe you are correct. Maybe at the 41 Parallel.
Click to expand...

At September I really don't think the Chinese would agree to the 41st parallel deal. I don't think the Americans would even propose it, considering how outrageous it may seem to believe they can gain that much territory when they barely reached Pyongyang.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sariwon
Sairown is way south of Pyongyang and it's late September. Getting the Chinese to agree to the 40th is a huge, huge achievement.
 
okmangeez

okmangeez

zeppelinair said:
At September I really don't think the Chinese would agree to the 41st parallel deal. I don't think the Americans would even propose it, considering how outrageous it may seem to believe they can gain that much territory when they barely reached Pyongyang.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sariwon
Sairown is way south of Pyongyang and it's late September. Getting the Chinese to agree to the 40th is a huge, huge achievement.
Click to expand...

I agree. I'll edit it :)

I think the 40th parallel is somewhat agreeable..,
 
okmangeez

okmangeez

Chapter 1:
The Shift


On September 30th, the final agreements between the People's Republic of China and the United States of America was signed on the USS Maddox. Weary of a potential expansion of the Korean War and the fear of Soviet intervention, the Truman administration agreed to send Secretary of Defense George Marshall to Korea in order to negotiate with the Soviet aligned Chinese.

At first, Mao Ze Dong initially did not agree with this meeting, claiming that he would not "work with the evil capitalist dogs and their puppets." However, America made a series of moves that completely astonished the Chinese and the world. On September 25th, 1950, the U.S. Seventh Fleet guarding Taiwan was ordered to Japan, leaving the island nearly undefended. Additionally, the Truman administration, desperate to keep the Chinese out of the war, promised immediate recognition both diplomatically and in the UN. This caught the interest of Mao Ze Dong, and he sent Premier Zhou Enlai to negotiate with Marshall.

Premier Enlai was a skilled diplomat and he believed that China could prosper if it remained under friendly terms with the West. Therefore, he was able to bring the negotiations rather to a swift end on September 30th of 1950, with Marshall and Enlai both signing the "Korean Deal". The United States would make the People' Republic of China the official permanent member of the Security Council, remove most American troops from Korea after the war, and create a buffer zone (a UN protectorate) between the Republic of Korea and China. In exchange, China agreed to normalize relations with the United States, allow Taiwan to be a self governing province, and withdraw all support for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). Everything was formerly finalized on October 2nd, with Congress (despite the China lobby) agreeing to the deal to avoid unnecessary blood shed in the Korean War. On October 10th, the border of the buffer zone was established at the 40th parallel, and China agreed that the buffer zone would be returned to Korean hands after a "few decades." (In reality, that zone would reunited with Korea in 1971).

As par the agreement, China slowly began to cut off supplies entering North Korea and removed troops from the border. America followed by ordering the Seventh Fleet to remain in Korea and immediately sought to put China in the UN and the UN Security Council (China's membership and Security Council seat would be approved in August of 1952).

However, despite the peaceful intentions of the deal, the Soviet Union saw this as a betrayal from their southern neighbor. As a result, on October 4th of 1950, the Soviet Union broke all ties with the People's Republic of China and began to move troops towards the border. China also deployed the army meant for the Korean War towards the Sino-Soviet border, unwilling to give into Soviet pressure.

Meanwhile, the American led UN coalition continued to march into North Korea, with the morale boosted by the agreement and the promise of a swifter end to the war. MacArthur agreed to stay clear of the Chinese (though he was clearly not too happy with the order) and instead focused his troops to clear out the North Korean forces. The Battle of Sariwon was fought on October 15th and smashed the defenses around Pyongyang, with the British only taking 4 casualties while the North Koreans taking around 500 casualties. Nampo and Pyonyang all fell within the next week on October 17th and 19th, with the UN forces quickly clearing the North Korean soldiers from their capital. After witnessing the severe loss of military units and supplies, Kim Il Sung and his followers all fled to the Soviet Union, seeking refugee there. They would be officially recognized as a government in-exile by the Soviet Union and her allies, but the rest of the world agreed that the Republic of Korea controlled the entire Korean Peninsula.

On October 25th, 1950, the remaining North Korean forces mainly in northern North Korea requested for a surrender and the surrender was accepted by the UN coalition. On October 27th, the North Korean soldiers began their mass surrender and by November 2nd, the entire peninsula was secured. The buffer zone was established on November 5th, but the war was still won. The Koreans were now free and an ally of the United States, which was a huge backlash for the Soviets. Meanwhile, the Chinese acted friendlier to the U.S., realizing that the United States could possibly aid the Chinese if the Soviets invaded China.

The first proxy war of the Cold War was won by the United States and her allies (along with the UN). This would be the first of many proxy wars, but the Americans claimed the first victory. From that war and beyond, the Soviets would slowly lose their prestige, influence, and face against their powerful rival...
 

ZhugeLiang

Yes! Fall of North Korea and a (hopefully) much more stable China with (hopefully) moderating American influence!
 
okmangeez

okmangeez

zeppelinair said:
Okmangeez, the buffer is a rump-north korea, not a Dmz as we might know Otl..
Click to expand...

It'll be a rump North Korea alright, but it'll be demilitarized.

Reasons why its a UN protectorate.

As the series goes on, you'll see that the UN and the US plays bigger roles than OTL. Especially the UN.
 

ZhugeLiang

Considering how interesting this start was, I don't think it's necessary to say that I'm subscribed. But just in case...

Subbed.
 
okmangeez

okmangeez


Chapter 1 Continued...


"With this, our country is finally reunited and free. We will no longer be puppets, but a free nation. We will make our own choices, and follow our own destinies. And knowing Korea, our destiny is great..."

-President Syngman Rhee on November 6th, during the ceremony of the official establishment of the Republic of Korea.
Click to expand...

After the shift of China's alignment, the Soviet Union began to worry about American influence in Asia. With the Americans emerging triumphant after the Korean War, the Soviet Union was put into a bad political and geopolitical position. Not only did the loss during the Korean War damage the prestige of the Soviet Union, but it also destroyed their influence in Asia. The only remaining communist nation in Asia was Mongolia and China. With China pulling itself away from the Soviet Union more and more and Mongolia wavering in their faith in the Soviet Union, Asia was looking more and more like an American bastion.

Meanwhile, in Asia, many countries were benefiting from the American dominant presence in Asia. In order to counter the Soviet threat that loomed towards the north of her allies, America began to implement the Marshall plan upon Asian countries as well, especially Korea and Japan. The newly made Republic of Korea received about $350 million in aid from the United States, while Japan received nearly double of the amount. The money was immediately used to rebuild the two country's industry and infrastructure. President Syngman Rhee, riding on his popularity after the victory over the North Koreans, began to implement programs to rebuild the economy. He heavily invested in the infrastructure, building up the Korean subway and railroad system, and also rebuilt the industry following the destruction in the wake of the Korean War. He also invested in the mineral-rich northern Korea, which had huge deposits of rare minerals such as cerium. By the 1960's, Korea's economy was well on it's way to recovery and grew exponentially at a pace of 10-20% until the 21st century.

Similarly, Japan experienced spectacular economic growth. Private companies within Japan began to borrow money fearlessly in order to expand their companies rapidly. With the $650 million support from America, Japan began to rebuild their entire economy from scratch following the devastation from World War 2. Production indices showed increases of 30 percent in manufacturing, 55 percent in steel, 75 percent in nonferrous metals, and 270 percent in machinery. Just like Korea, Japan's economy grew at a pace of 15-20%, even hitting 25% one year, with the rapid development.

Both countries, under the guidance of America, banned monopolies in 1951. This allowed stronger economic competition which led to unstoppable growth. With Korean and Japanese companies often coming head to head with each other, the two countries began to grow faster and faster. It was a friendly, but dangerous rivalry. Of course, this would lead to the modernization of both countries and Japan/Korea becoming the world leaders of economics and technology in the 21st century.

Meanwhile, China finalized the deal on November 4th of 1950. The deal led to China's entry into the Security Council the following year (despite objections from Britain and France) and the recognition of China as the sole leader of the Chinese mainland. Chiang Kai Shek and his Nationalist Party protested in anger for the betrayal of America, but most Americans ignored the Nationalist Party in China. Most people were relieved that a war with China was avoided and happy that the Soviet Union lost their influence in Asia. In fact, a poll from the New York Times revealed that nearly 86% of Americans approved of the "Korean Deal," as it saved thousands of lives. The rump state of North Korea, a demilitarized zone between China and Korea on the 40th Parallel, was formally established on November 10th. The United Nation Peacekeepers occupied the strip of land, easing tensions between America and China. Additionally, as promised, America began to withdraw massive amounts of troops from Korea, leaving only leaving behind 10,000 men in the end. However, America left plenty of equipment behind for the Koreans to use, which the Koreans did to train and protect themselves from aggressors. However, China never presented a potential threat to Korea and the Koreans focused themselves on their economy, developing their military to become lean and efficient instead of massive numbers.

China established basic relations and economic relations with America after the Korean Deal. This allowed some growth of the Chinese economy, mainly due to the trade. However, Mao denied the government from probing any further into the Western world. Mao feared the Western nations and their influence due to their beliefs and government. He wanted absolute control and unity, especially after the Soviet Union backing out. As a result, America did have a cordial relationship with China, but China was still communist, thus did not entirely trust America.

After the victory in Asia, America began to bring the Asian nation countries closer to each other, and NATO began to see if they could expand their influence into Asia, especially after the Soviet intervention and almost North Korean victory. As a result, NATO expanded into other nations. South Korea and Japan applied for membership, but the European powers were split on their membership...

Meanwhile, in Europe, Communist countries caught the whiff of the war in Asia, and many rebel groups began to use the news against the regimes. The Polish underground movement, along with Eastern Germans, Romanians, and others rebel activities would increase, affecting the eventual outcome of the Cold War. This led to some political chaos and destruction within the Soviet Union, which would be a deciding factor in the eventual break up of the might Soviets.
 
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mlp

okmangeez said:
Haha, forever immortalized President Rhee

Just like Park in our history, but he's not seen as a military dictator but the "father" of the new Korea.
Click to expand...

Maybe they're gonna build his statue instead of Yi Sun-shin's in front of Gwanghwa gate..:(
 

ZhugeLiang

Great timeline!

Just a little nitpick. China's going to be leaning to whichever side gives more aid (unless they violate sovereignty, like the USSR of OTL).

In this case, I think they'd try to get some aid from the US too. :p gotta get somma dat free dough, man
 
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