The study of the role of Mao Zedong in Chinese entry to the Korean War

Abstract

General Douglas MacArthur and President Harry Truman were convinced that the Chinese would not have intervened in the Korean War. This was further supported by China who had expressed that it would not interfere in Korea’s internal affairs. However, in October 1950, Chinese troops began to cross the Yalu River and engaged in a series of large-scale attacks against the forces of the United Nations. This results in a change in the nature of the war. Hence, by focusing on the period from 1940-1953, this paper would first aimed to highlight the missed opportunities that could have prevented China from entering the war. Following that, by analyzing the various factors that had caused China to enter the Korean War, this paper would argue that Mao Zedong was using China’s involvement in the Korean War as a political tool in gaining affirmation for his leadership in China. Last but not least, this paper would look into how Mao Zedong used propaganda in getting support for his decision.