Consequences+of+the+Korean+War


 * [[image:Korean-War-environment.jpg align="center" caption=""Korea stimulated the cancer" -McCauley"]] ||
 * "Korea stimulated the cancer" -McCauley ||

NSC-68 was a document produced by the National Security Council in April 1950. It's goal was to counteract the loss of China and to show a more active side of the Truman government. It's main feature is the tripling of military expenditure and the developpement of a hydrogen bomb as a priority. Before the Korean war, these were just a set of proposals and, while Truman agreed with them, he could not accept this resolution, as it was too expensive and would mean higher taxes, lowering his popularity amongst the people//.' We were all sweating over NSC-68 and then, thank God, Korea came along.'// After the Korean war had started, Truman had no choice to accept this proposition, and according to Edwards: //'within two years almost every recommendation made in NSC-68 had been implemented.'//
 * __Implementation of NSC-68__**

__**Strenghtening of NATO**__ NATO was enforced as Europe was regarded as the most likely area for Soviet expansion, according to Edwards. Greece and Turkey were included in 1951, armed forces were sent to Europe to keep the countries from Soviet invasion. The US also encoureged their NATO partners to up their military expenses to create a sort of shield against the soviet expansion to the west. As Mason said //:' As a result of the Korean war, the United States's military power was injected right into the heart of Europe.''//

__**Proposal to re-arm West Germany**__ A branch from the NATO enforcement, the United States proposed to re-arm West Germany so they could help in the defense of western Europe. The USA wanted to integrate west Germany in NATO. Instead, they joined the EDC, pressured by France, the USA agreed, since they wanted an immediate West-German rearmament.

__**Aid to Japan**__ As the Korean war broke out, the United States wanted to reinfore their ally, Japan by giving them independance. In exchange, America would have military bases in Japan to assure a full coverage from USSR expansiona dn securing influence in Asia. The US also enforced a trade embargo to China to keep their economic control ovec Japan. Mason argues that it is the most important consequence of the Korean war.

__**Aid to France in Vietnam**__ 1953- The war is spreading onto Vietnam, the Communist North lead by Minh is fighting the corrupted South lead by Diem

__**Aid to Taiwan**__ In 1950, Truman ordered the defense of Taiwan against Communist invasion, since they still recognized Taiwan as the only official Chinese state, according to Edwards. This aid was given both economically and with military forces. This was done as an effort to reduce the influence of Chinese communism in Asia.

__**ANZUS Pact**__ To assure Australia and New Zealand's approval of rehabilitating Japan, the USA signed the ANZUS pact in 1951, declaring that these three countries (USA, Australia, New Zealand) would help each other in the event of an attack against Australasia. The USA would protect Australia and New Zealand against Japan, and both of them would help the USA defend the Pacific against communist incursions.