On September 28, 1950, the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment arrived in Pusan, South Korea in what would be Australia’s major contribution in the war effort against invading forces from the north of the Korean peninsula, to the Korean People’s Army (KPA). “Following Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies’ endorsement of UNSC Resolution 82, this would see the beginning of a three year conflict in which Australia would commit 17,000 troops and suffer over 300 fatalities, only five years after the end of the Second World War, (AWM, 2016)”. In what was predicated as Australia’s commitment to providing peacekeeping troops for the United Nations to preserve the freedom of South Koreans, the Korean War would eventually play a fundamental role in solidifying Australia’s shift in vital military alliances, in particular the post WWII development of the United States in surpassing the United Kingdom as a key protector of Australia.
Whilst the invasion of South Korea by North Korean troops might not have presented a direct threat to Australian security interests, in can be seen that the development of the conflict heightened
…show more content…
(1950). Governor-General's Speech. Parliamentary Debates (pp. 290-291). Canberra: Senate.
Furthermore, this statement appears to reject the notion of the domino theory describing the emergence of communism in Asian nations as
“...the working people awakening to the fact they can rule nations”.
Whilst this is a highly authoritative primary source, as a key figure in the Labor Party it should be noted that O’Flaherty’s comment reflects the party’s objective at the time to minimize the perception of a communist threats due to public fears of a communist influence within the trade union movement, (Kendall, 2008, p. 48). As such, Menzies’ and Spender’s political views with regards to the spread of communism can be seen as representative and necessary in evaluating Australia’s historical dependence on a larger military
portrayed containment in the Korean War by having the United Nations step in during the attack, having a counterattack, and then keeping Korea two countries. The U.S. and U.N. stepped in and helped South Korea when North Korea started to attack them. Stalin told North Korea to attack South Korea because he wanted to have control of the whole country and spread communism. The United States and the United Nations interfered because they did not want the Soviets to take over South Korea. The North Koreans were pushing the South Koreans almost of the Korean peninsula even with the United States helping to defend. Soon, MacArthur, the U.S. General came up with a counterattack pushing the North Koreans all the way to the Yaul River. They were stopping the spreading of communism until China stepped in. As China stepped in, they fought all the way back to the 38th Parallel. Finally, after several years the war ended. South Korea gained a little more land over the 38th Parallel, but both countries were kept separate. The United States, in this case, stopped the spreading of communism (Doc
During the 1950s, A political and propagandic war broke out in the aftermath of World War 2. The capitalist U.S.A. and the communist U.S.S.R. indirectly fought each other in a war of indoctrination, espionage and rivalry in everything from weaponry to sporting events. The Soviet Union and the United States had become the two major world powers, fighting to convert nations to their specific ideologies. One of these battles is the Vietnam War. By this time, majority of Indo-China were vulnerable to invasion from communist powers to the north. Vietnam was on the brink of conversion to communism, this gave alliances such as SEATO and ANZUS, and Australian Prime Minister Menzies the chance to give his citizens the opportunity to battle socialism before it reached all of South-East Asia.
In June 1950, 90,000 soldiers from the communist Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. The most important reason for a military response from the US was the document NSC 68, which stated that they must meet communism wherever it arises. Due to this document, it was the US assumption that the invasion on South Korea was not a Civil War due to the events in Korea, and the permanent divide in 1948. However, there was also US domestic policies, and Truman’s fear of being accused of being ‘soft on communism,’ as well as the US based organisation, the UN, which was a new institution, which Truman had to support. Furthermore, containment in Europe and Asia and the
As we have seen there was a genuine fear of communism in Asia spreading to Australia which was known as the ‘Domino Theory’ and as it can be stated that one of the main reasons Australia got involved in the Vietnam War was the ‘Foreign policy’ and ‘SEATO’. Furthermore Australia’s strategy against a possible threat to Australia’s security from Asia was called ‘forward defence’. The idea was to meet any possible threat before it came too close to Australian shores. ‘Forward defence’ meant that Australia would willingly commit troops to conflicts well beyond its shores to counter potential threats. This strategy was behind the decisions made by the Menzies government to contribute forces to conflicts in Asia, where it was thought that communists were attempting to take power. Australian troops were sent to the Korean War (1950-1953) in support of both Britain and the USA as part of a UN force, The Malaya Emergency
In the twentieth century after World War 2 the world was threatened by the takeover of communist that had begun to consume the globe. The Australian government identified that the fear ideology communism will take over the country if no actions were taken to stand against and stop it. The Australian government provided support and participated in several military conflicts during the Cold War to reduce the threat of communist around the world. However, the longest of Australia’s military engagement was the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1975. Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War was mainly centred on its fear of the ‘Domino Theory’, and its relations with the U.S through the Foreign policy which involved the ‘Forward Defence’ policy. The
The Korean War was a defining part of the United States foreign policy in the Cold War Era and was a response to threats from the Soviet Union. The Korean War was a culmination of tensions between North and South Korea that had resulted from the influences the United States and the Soviet Union inculcated into the countries during their occupation. When the Korean War was initiated, by the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the United States and their allies in the United Nations perceived the invasion as a bold communistic expansion effort that occurred without provocation. (Document A). Further validating this idea was the fact that the attack was endorsed by the USSR, and partially lead by Red China, both of which were communist countries
As tensions grew between South Korea and North Korea American involvement was inevitable. “The political drama surrounding the Korean War permitted an extraordinary escalation in both cold war hysteria and in military spending”. Once the Korean War began spending shot
America's Involvement in the Korean War The USA emerged from WWII as the dominant Western, democratic superpower. She quickly established for herself a role as world policeman, and defender of the "free world". When, on June 25th 1950, Communist North Korean forces invaded the South of the country, the USAwas quick to step in, and with UN support and approval, sent in military forces to restore the balance. However, it is questionable whether moral principles were the only reason for America's involvement in the Korean War, or whether perhaps the Truman administration had other validation for such a huge scale military campaign.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) and US troops were pushed back to the “Pusan Perimeter”
"To what extent can the Korean War be regarded as a Cold War proxy war?"
The Korean War occurred from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953 when armistice was signed. (Stokesbury) It was between Republic of Korea and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. United Nations were on the South Korea side and China and Soviet Union were at North Korea side. North Korea invaded South Korea after United States’ military evacuation. North Korea occupied most of South Korea, but after Incheon Landing, it turned the tide of the war. Finally, the war ended by declaring ceasefire and made Military Demarcation Line. The war was significant because it was the war between democratic and communist countries. It was also the time of Cold War when Soviet Union and United States were having political and diplomatic conflicts
The Korean War was an influential event that started in 1950 and caused a lot of controversy among Americans and Koreans. The war was caused by the US trying to preserve the Democratic side of Korea, the south side. The Koreans were not happy, however, and the Viet Kong and North Korean soldiers fought tooth and nail to get the Americans out of the country. There was eventually an end to the war of course but not without lots of casualties on both sides and a hostile environment around the border of the two countries.
According to Robert, without Korean War there would be a huge difference in the world’s history. In addition to that Robert also stated “the Korean war shaped the course of the cold war by both resolving the incoherence which characterized U.S. foreign and defense efforts in the period 1946-1950 and establishing important new lines of policy”(1980). The Korean War led to the changes of policy through three processes in changes on the domestic political situation, defense budget and NATO. The domestic policy changes let the leader of the country to do whatever they wanted to do before (Robert,
The Korean War began on June 25th, 1950 when North Korea invaded South Korea. On June 27th, 1950, American United Nations forces intervened to stop the advance. This action has positively and negatively affected both the United States and Korea. Deciding to aid South Korea in the Korean War has drastically changed the lives of many people.
The rising tension over the sinking of a South Korean ship reached to a serious conflict between South Korean and North Korea. South Korean is accusing North Korean for firing the torpedo on purpose which resulted in 46 sailors deaths. According to Yonhap news, North Korean military official accused the South of intruding into North Korean waters in the Yellow Sea. North Korea sends a warning message to South Korea by firing torpedo to warn South Korea to not intrude in to their waters in Yellow Sea. North Korea doesn’t want to admit to their mistake; instead they are threatening to retaliate with military actions if South Korea won’t stop with accusations.