v Korea

Ø Historical Overview

§ Japan annexed Korea in 1910

· Colonial imposition on Korean engendered=>

¨ Strong anti-colonial nationalism in people

§ Following WWII=> Korea (like Vietnam) divided- how?

· Communist North vs. Non-communist South

§ Both Korea & Vietnam would fight civil wars

· US would intervene in both to halt spread of what?

· US had little knowledge or experience with either state

Ø As Japanese Colony

§ Japan, China, & Russia fought over Korea – who won?

· Sino-Japanese War (1894-95)

· Russo-Japanese War (1904-05)

· Result: Korea made protectorate(1905) & annex (1910)

§ Japan made substantial investment in Korea (esp. North)

· Colonial transformation in virtually all aspects:

¨ Economic, political, social, literary, & artistic

· Hugh $ investment in roads, rail, telegraph, energy, etc.

· Korea’s standard of living & education levels improved

· Population grew from 14m (1910) to 24m by 1940

§ By 1930s=> Korean cities formed modern culture

§ Japan had essentially conducted a quasi-Meiji reform

· Result: Korea totally changed from its state in 1910

§ These positive aspects were achieved at a high cost:

· Japan’s aims/motives: exploit Korea to Japan’s benefit

· Strategy: make it a subordinate part of Imperial Japan

¨ Land tax reform benefited only the land owners

¨ Koreans remained subordinate to Japanese admin

Ø Particularly galling to an older Korean culture

§ Japan repressed any sign of dissent

· Korean police used as tool in this regard- brutality

· “assimilation” into Japanese style was mandatory

· Japan’s bitter legacy persists in Korea to this day

Ø North and South Korea

§ North- South spit followed immediately after WWII

· Which nations occupied which areas?

§ Promise of unification failed to materialize- what did?

· US encouraged South to develop democracy & self gov

· Had to settle for anti-communist authoritarian state

¨ Role of Syngman Rhee=> end of US military gov.

¨ Stoutly supported by conservatives &refugees from?

§ USSR established communist government under whom?

· USSR withdraws troops in late 1949

· Role of Kim Il Sung- our “great” leader

¨ Trusted by China & USSR as good communist

¨ Totalitarian government & cult of personality

§ US withdraws troops in 1949-1950

· Part of larger Asian strategy to “let dust settle”

· Followed KMT’s loss to Communist forces

Ø Civil War and US involvement

§ North Korea’s Invasion (25 June 1950- Map 34-3)

· Aim of North Korea’s (NK) invasion of South?

§ Kim Il Sung had gotten whose permission to invade?

· Also extracted promise of military support from whom?

¨ Condition for support: if US intervened

· NK assumed quick victory before US could respond

§ US viewed invasion as part of global communist strategy

· US rush occupation troops from Japan to slow advance

¨ Obtain UN backing for international force response

¨ Send 7^th Fleet to Taiwan Straits to check PRC moves

· US concerned NK invasion a diversion- why/for what?

¨ US assumed Soviet complicity- why?

Ø Korean War (Map)

§ North Korea attack on a broad front=>

· Pushed US & South Korean (SK) troops reeling south

· Desperate attempt made to buy time for US deployment

¨ Sacrifice of Task Force Smith

¨ US & SK forces retreat south to Pusan Peninsula

¨ As NK forces extend LOCs- Mac attacks where?

Ø Inchon landing to cut off NK overextended LOCs

§ From Containment to Roll back:

· Changing war aims in mid-war (“mission creep”)

· US gets greedy & decides to do what=> new war aim?

· MacArthur pushes to Yalu river & upsets whom?

¨ China’s response? (“band new war”?)

Ø Attack overextended UN forces in turn- flee south

· US counter-attacks (Gen Ridgeway) & pushes North

¨ Along 38^th parallel stalemate sets in to war’s end

¨ Both sides conduct bitter tactical forays- purpose?

Ø Gain terrain for negotiations at bargaining table

¨ After two years of fighting while negotiating=>

Ø Armistice concluded on 27 July 1953 (Ike’s role)

§ China & NK pursued political aims & strategy (Sun Tsu)

· US pursued military strategy (Clausewitz) (…repeated)

Ø Recent Developments

§ NK becomes totalitarian state following war

· Stalinist style dictatorship & cult of personality

· Kim Il Sung rules w/ iron fist – strict communist dogma

· Kim Jong-Il (“Dear Leader”) will follow- why unique?

· NK becomes isolated & its economy stagnate

§ Rhee remained SK president until forced to retire in 1960

· 27 years followed under rule of two Generals turned civ

¨ Park Chung-hee (by military coup in 1961)

Ø Semi-authoritarian rule w/limited freedoms

Ø Free market economy=> SK prospers

Ø Employs police & agents to maintain power

§ (to be fair- NK penetrations routine)

· Following Park’s assassination (1999)=>

¨ Chun Dou-hwan seized power- becomes civilian

Ø Elected president in controlled election – to 1987

§ Under both presidents=> SK economic growth impressive

· Gov supported Bz & US provided $ & market for export

· Stunning growth: From $11B in 1960 to $457B by 2000

· Korean labor=> 1 of hardest working people in world

· Quickly moved to developed nation status

§ What was ironic about gov $ success on people’s attitude?

§ Economic prosperity nurtured by Park & Chun =>

· Produced vibrant middle class- who wanted what?

· Bath tub incident at ROK CIA headquarters & impact?

¨ Protest & free election=> Roh Tae-woo interim step

§ 1991: Kim Young-sam (moderate) elected in free election

· Purged former Generals who supported Chun

· Launched investigation=> $ corruption of Chun &Roh

¨ Convicted of stashing $100Ms in off shore accounts

Ø Also of ordering killing of 100s of protestors

Ø Imprisoned but subsequently released

§ 1997: Kim Dae-jung (pix p. 990) elected president

· Pro-democracy advocate who escaped assassination

· Popular idealists=> pursued “sunshine policy” w/NK

¨ NK response? => impact of it (along w/-$) on Kim?

§ Since USSR’s demise & China’s pursuit of free market=>

· What is the current status of North Korea?

· Why is the US concerned about it?

v Vietnam

Ø The Colonial Backdrop- Overview:

§ France defeated Nguyen dynasty in 1883

· Formed Indochina Union* of Vietnam & Cambodia

Ø Formed in 1887* and added Laos in 1893

§ Why is Indochina a classic example of colonial rule?

· French people over Asian for what purpose?

· Infrastructure investments for what purpose?

· Status of indigenous people within colonial system?

· Benefits to land owning elite at whose expense?

· Provision of education vs. keeping labor class

· Result: no chance for formation of middle class

§ Vietnam Nationalist formed political parties in exile

· What happened if they tried to come home?

· Role of Ho Chi Minh- Nationalists or Communist?

Ø First Indo-China Anti-colonial War (1946-1954 Map):

§ Viet Minh vs. Colonial occupation forces

· Who controls what?

§ France sets up regional Indochina government in 1948

· Role of Bao Dai?

§ Both sides fight low level insurgency until 1954

· What significant event occurs then?

§ French defeat at Dien Bien Phu (Map)

· French paratroopers build remote base in NW Vietnam

¨ Aim: lure Viet Minh into major battle (so…?)

· Urged on by Chinese- Gen Giap surrounds French

¨ Position arty on top of surrounding mountains

¨ French located in valley in several linked fire bases

¨ Airstrip provides main re-supply/reinforcement

· Fighting ensue for weeks & one by one Fr bases fall

¨ When airstrip falls French use paradrop-not enough

¨ Soon isolated & cut off- no re-supply or reinforcements

· Paris appeals to Ike for military support- but no deal

· French forced to surrender as French people loose will

§ Geneva Peace Conference divided country at 17^th parallel

· (Not supported by US- Ike)

· Communist North led by who?

· Non-communist South led by Ngo Dinh Diem

¨ Established Republic of Vietnam (RVN)

¨ Diem’s support from 900K fleeing from North

Ø The Vietnam War (1959 -1975- Map)

§ AKA=> the Second Indo-China War

· 1940: US urged French to negotiate settlement w/Ho

¨ What made US change its mind?

¨ Why did US decide to recognize Bao Dai gov?

¨ How connected to US Cold War strategy?

· Initial US involvement under Ike w/advisors

· Late 1950s: insurgency begins again in South

¨ Viet Minh revived=> Viet Cong (Diem repression)

¨ North begins sending agents South along trail (Map)

Ø Motivated when Diem rejects free elections in ‘56

· JFK: send SOF advisors- reached 16K by 1963

¨ Initiated OPLAN 34a- covert operations

· 1964: Diem gov appears on verge of failure

¨ VC controlled rural areas at night

¨ Heavy handed strategic village program failure

¨ Then: Tonkin Gulf incident=> Congress blank check

· 1965-1968: LBJ begins Americanization of the war

¨ Ground combat troop levels escalate & take over

¨ By Tet ‘68=> troop levels reached over 540K

¨ American casualties mount & US becomes divided

§ Some reasons for America’s Vietnam defeat:

· 1. South too diverse to unify & govern against North

· 2. RVN gov was corrupt & inspired little loyalty

· 3. Ho Chi Minh considered national hero by most

· 4. NVA unified & more determined fighters than ARVN

· 5. US tech advantaged lost over jungle terrain

· 6. US political leaders tried to fight limited war

· 7. US Strategy of attrition & gradual escalation

· 8. North Vietnam willing to pay the cost of winning

· 9. US lost political will as casualties continue to mount

· At end of day, Vietnam was an insurgency

¨ Aggressively supported by Communist North

¨ Willing to pay any price to achieve it political aim

¨ US constrained to limited aims & limited cost

¨ When price became too much for US to bear=>

Ø America lost its political will to continue

§ Misperceptions of a failed strategy

· US linked war with Cold War containment at first

¨ Finally realized impact of Sino-Soviet split

¨ Focused on containing Chinese communism then on

¨ Failed to appreciate Vietnam’s attitude about China

· As US involvement & cas rise=> US lost political will

§ 1968-1973: Nixon searched for an exit strategy

· Use triangular diplomacy w/China & USSR

· “Vietnamization” & “peace with honor”?

· Kissinger negotiated tenuous compromise w/North

· Christmas bombing & finally a settlement

§ 1973-1975: North bides its time & waits for chance

· Strikes in Spring of 1975=> RVN forces collapse

Ø War with Cambodia

§ 1975: Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge in power

§ 1975-78: the “killing fields” strategy & its costs

§ 1978: Vietnam & Cambodia clash at border

· Historical enemies

· Pol Pot purges all pro-Vietnam elements

· Vietnam occupies much of Cambodia=> puppet gov

· Khmer Rouge conduct insurgency- rest accept Vietnam

§ Meanwhile- USSR & Vietnam align closer

· USSR get Cam Rhan Bay in return for $/mil/diplomacy

· Relations with China continue to deteriorate

§ China feels wartime support not appreciated

· Resent ill treatment by Vietnam of its ethnic Chinese

· Decide to “teach Vietnam a lesson”- how they do?

Ø Recent Developments

§ Impact of USSR’s collapse on Vietnam

· $ aid no longer available & leaders search for $

§ 1989: UN replaced Vietnam in Cambodia

· UN sets up gov comprised of contending factions

· Pro-Vietnam communist leader staged successful coup

· Pol Pot dies & Khmer Rouge collapsed

¨ Impact on Vietnam- China relations?

§ Mid 1990s: China-Vietnam open trade relations

· China allowed to use Haiphong to ship its exports

· 1995: Vietnam joined ASEAN=> $ trade increases

· Established diplomatic relations with US

§ Communist continued to dominate all aspects of Gov

· Support state run heavy industries

· At same time=> allow free market to grow=>

¨ Doi moi reforms

· Collective agriculture replaced by private farms

¨ Result: starvation ends & Vietnam now exports rice

¨ Consumer goods manufacturing rises

· Role of South as Vietnam’s $ engine (Saigon)

§ 2000: NTL key problems still remain- what are they?

v East Asia in World Perspective

Ø No magic potion for successful industrialization

§ East Asia’s success offers clear example of why

§ West & Japan merely industrialized first

Ø Industrialization in East Asia- five key issues:

§ Wages & competition:- old vs. new paradigm

· Previous developed nations vs. undeveloped nations:

¨ Old=> finished goods for raw material/light indust.

¨ New=> no longer holds – why?

· Cheap and skilled hi-tech Asian labor challenge West

· Europe’s response- protective tariffs

· US current response:

· Keep markets opens & improve competitiveness (1990s)

· Hold wages down

· Restructure corporations & relocate jobs overseas

·