WI: US Intervention in The Chinese Civil War 1947-1949

I have been trying to learn more about the immediate post-war period and was looking at the fall of the Nationalists and the rise of the PRC along with its impact on the geopolitical situation. It would only be a couple years before the US developed into the "Policeman of the Free World" and the Korean War, so I was wondering if that process could be sped up a bit. I have a couple of questions I hoped you guys could help me answer:

What would it take to get the US to intervene in China (particularly interested if it is possible in late 1948, pre-Huaihai and Pingjin Campaigns)?

What forces would they be able to bring to the table at this point in time?

What other actions might they do if they get involved in the conflict? How are international relations affected by a US intervention?

What would the effect be on the Chinese Civil War? Would US involvement be enough to turn the tide? What is the likelihood of escalating to nuclear weapons?

I could probably think of a dozen other questions, but i think this is a good place to start.
 
If by "intervention" you mean use of US troops, this was always unlikely. As dedicated an anti-Communist as General MacArthur repeatedly said, "anyone in favor of sending American ground troops to fight on Chinese soil should have his head examined." https://books.google.com/books?id=462-ocjLNtAC&pg=PA76 If you mean "US aid to Chiang Kai-shek" there was plenty of that, as I note at https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...n-for-nationalist-china.388943/#post-12423321

By Intervention I meant the use of US troops. I am well aware that it is unlikely to occur, but what would it take to trigger a military intervention? Is there any way to build the political willpower to intervene?

Would US military support be enough to stop the Communist advance? As mentioned, I am mostly interested in late 1948, when Northern China was collapsing around the Nationalists.
 
By Intervention I meant the use of US troops. I am well aware that it is unlikely to occur, but what would it take to trigger a military intervention? Is there any way to build the political willpower to intervene?

Would US military support be enough to stop the Communist advance? As mentioned, I am mostly interested in late 1948, when Northern China was collapsing around the Nationalists.
A loss of Korea, and a partial Soviet occupation of Japan (Hokkaido?) could do the trick.
 
What exactly kept the US out of China?

I was hoping to keep Soviet involvement in any escalation to a minimum, with a focus rather on the PLA/PRC.

Would a fear of India going communist be enough to cause a change in US foreign policy? It wouldn't necessarily have to be a rational fear, but if the communist rebels in the West Bengal and in Hyderabad were more powerful and it seemed like the Indian Congress would negotiate with them, would that be enough?
 
What exactly kept the US out of China?

I was hoping to keep Soviet involvement in any escalation to a minimum, with a focus rather on the PLA/PRC.

Would a fear of India going communist be enough to cause a change in US foreign policy? It wouldn't necessarily have to be a rational fear, but if the communist rebels in the West Bengal and in Hyderabad were more powerful and it seemed like the Indian Congress would negotiate with them, would that be enough?
The United States was unwilling to intervene due to having just suffered through a massive conflict with Japan and Germany.
Japan was occupied, and the Soviets were actually supporting the Kuomintang, so the situation in Asia was quite satisfactory for American political men of the time, who were also far more concerned with the power balance in Europe.

Americans would only dedicate greater forces to Asia to obstruct perceived aggression, or if they felt threatened. The only nation which could possibly be perceived as a relevant threat at the time is the USSR.
 
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