Widening of the Cold War - US containment in Asia

US containment in action in Asia: the reconstruction of Japan and US-Japanese relations; support for Jiang Jieshi and policy towards China and Taiwan; the defensive perimeter strategy; support for South Korea; NSC-68

US foreign policy in Asia after 1949

CONTAINMENT

After 1949, US foreign policy in Asia was shaped by the rise of communism.

The US sought to contain the spread of communism in the region, particularly in China and Korea.

* led to the US involvement in the Korean War and the establishment of military alliances such as SEATO and ANZUS.

The US also provided economic and military aid to countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to help them resist communist influence.

US aims in Japan

Considered the ‘Asian analogue to (West) Germany

* US viewed Japan as an indispensable region of economic growth and a Cold War strategic asset

There was a shift on reforming and demilitarising a previous enemy state , to now facilitating its rapid economic recovery

Reverse Course - 1947

Wanted the development of firm democratic institutions and practices

* an emphasis on economic reconstruction as the route by which political stability could be achieved

Contributing factors towards economic stabilisation - cleared directives from Washington sent to MacArthur

• increased regulation of foreign exchange

• price controls

• a more efficient taxation system

• a balanced budget

‘Super Balanced Budget’

Set a target of a surplus of nearly 157 million yen - Dodge’s budget ( economic adviser to SCAP) led to increased unemployment due to business closures

San - Francisco Peace Treaty , September 1951

The San Francisco Peace Treaty, signed in September 1951, officially ended World War II between Japan and the Allied Powers.

* recognised Japan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also required Japan to renounce claims to certain territories, including Korea and Taiwan.
* established the International Military Tribunal for the Far East to prosecute war crimes committed by Japanese officials during the war.

US Japan Security Treaty, 1951

Mutual defence agreement between the United States and Japan. It was signed in San Francisco on September 8, 1951

* allows for the presence of US military forces in Japan and commits both countries to cooperate in the event of an armed attack against either party

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Japan joins GATT - 1955

Strengthened Japan’s access to western trade but prevented trade with communist China

Rearmament of Japan (1952)

August 1952 - Japanese government established a force of 110,000 ground troops and 7600 maritime personnel

November 1952 - US Joint Chiefs of Staff announced plans for a Japanese air force

US policy changes in Japan after 1954

Up to 1954 - driven by the threat of communism in Korea

Rearmament created instability due to anti and pro rearmament attitudes

The US was now focused on managing rearmament in order to avoid any consequences which may lead to instability

US Foreign Policy aims in China

After the Communist Party of China took power in 1949

\- the US foreign policy towards China aimed to contain the spread of communism and prevent the expansion of Soviet influence in the region.

June 1949

Chinese communist party announced its allegiance to the USSR

China White Paper, July 1949

US strategy towards China was defined in the China White Paper

• Acheson was committed to supporting the KMT in Taiwan - but secretly so that the US did not appear as an ‘imperialist menace’

• Attempted to justify its withdrawal from direct military support for Jiang Jeshi - this was done in order to not reinforce a Sino - Soviet alliance

Defensive Perimeter Strategy , January 1950

Acheson argued that the military defence of Japan was the responsibility of the USA and that this was to be achieved through the Defensive Perimeter

Acheson’s Defensive Perimeter was criticised for omitting Korea in the defensive cordon - the US was still committed to protecting South Korea from communist expansion.

Sino - Soviet Treaty of Friendship, 14th February 1950

Preserved the security of both sides and maintained peace in the Far East

Provided China with security guarantees and increased the scope for economic cooperation

Factors behind the review of USA’s strategic objectives (NSC 68)

• USSR tests their own atomic bomb in September 1949

• Truman’s ‘loss of China’ - declared independence of China

NSC 68 - 7th April 1950

Military emphasis on containment - permanent military buildup and a global application of containment

Significance :

recognition that containment is not sufficient to deal with the communist threat

Evidence that China caused the USA’s fundamental shift in Cold War Strategy

• October 1949 - communist victory did not trigger the review of strategic objectives

→ June 1949 , China’s allegiance to the USSR revealed how China was not isolated from Soviet Support

• China White Paper, July 1949

• USA take an active stance in South East Asia

→ February 1950 , the USA abandon a quasi neutral approach to the Indo China dispute - recognise the French installed regime and provide direct military support

• NSC 68 - triggered by the ‘loss of China’

→ globalisation and militarisation of containment as result of the most populous country in Asia emerging as a communist state