WI the US decided to stay out of Taiwan & the Taiwan Straits in 1950

If the US stayed out of Taiwan/Taiwan straits in 1950, the PRC would have stayed out of Korea

  • Yes

    Votes: 2 10.0%
  • No

    Votes: 18 90.0%

  • Total voters
    20

raharris1973

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What would be the consequences have been if the Truman Administration, when committing to fight to defend South Korea in late June 1950, decided not to also undertake the ancillary action of "neutralizing" Taiwan. WI instead it keeps its forces and personnel out of the Chinese Civil War, leaving the Chinese Communists on the one hand free to possibly invade Taiwan, and leaving the Chinese Nationalists on the other hand free to continue their ongoing raids and blockades against the Chinese mainland?

Further, suppose that the Inchon assault is still launched as in OTL, and the US/UN forces still pursue the North Korean forces between the 38th parallel and Yalu river [unless their ability to do this s butterflied away].

How likely is Communist China's intervention in Korea?

I encourage you to answer the poll and explain your rationale for your vote.
 
Last edited:

raharris1973

Gone Fishin'
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Mao did mention Taiwan in a justificatory statement in October 1951: "As everyone knows, the Chinese people would not be fighting U.S. forces if they had not occupied our Taiwan, invaded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and pushed on to our northeastern borders. But since the U.S. aggressors have attacked us, we cannot but raise the banner of anti-aggression." http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/28/content_6143000_4.htm
 
Mao did mention Taiwan in a justificatory statement in October 1951: "As everyone knows, the Chinese people would not be fighting U.S. forces if they had not occupied our Taiwan, invaded the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and pushed on to our northeastern borders. But since the U.S. aggressors have attacked us, we cannot but raise the banner of anti-aggression." http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/28/content_6143000_4.htm

But notice that this was after the fact and publicly. Of course in public Mao is going to cite every alleged injustice the US did to the PRC. But when he talked to the Politburo before the decision had been made, the emphasis was on the danger to the PRC if the DPRK were to fall.
 
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