Origins of the Korean War

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the theory that the Korean conflict was purposely started by Joseph Stalin in order to drive the United States and China apart and to bring Mao Zedong and Communist China under Soviet influence. The author also discusses how the war's origins were primarily domestic, yet global superpowers provided quicker means to escalation.

From the paper:

"On December 16, 1949, Mao Zedong arrived in Moscow to begin discussions with Joseph Stalin. Mao hoped to acquire from the Soviets ships and aircraft to use in his planned invasion of Taiwan. Mao also wanted to renegotiate the treaty previously agreed to by Stalin and the Kuomintang government. Stalin, however, stonewalled Mao, refusing to relinquish the access to Manchuria that the treaty granted him. On December 19, realizing that Stalin was reading his messages, Mao cabled Zhou Enlai in Beijing, informing him that the Chinese Communists should soon attempt to open relations with the United States."

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