Re: Book review: Red Wings Over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union and the Ai...

[robert guertin <wanaki@infionline.net>]

What the Chinese were seeking in 1951, when they implored Malik to intervene on
their behalf at the UN and propose a temporary cessation of hostilities, and the
institution of a negotiation toward an end of hostilities, was an opportunity to
avoid defeat, which was sure to ensue if the current attack by the UN Forces
Continued. The Chinese and NK had shot their bolt and they knew it. They then
used the "peace talks", (lower case used on purpose) to re-supply, re-inforce
and entrench, in direct violation of the initial agreement. When Mao's son was
killed shortly after hostilities resumed in '51, Mao vowed to "drive the UN into
the sea".
I would strongly argue they did not get what they wanted, which was a unified
Korea as Communist, and the UN out of Korea. That the Chinese intervened with an
undeclared war against the UN to secure their homeland is a myth.

> The Chinese were tough at the negotiating table.
> But seems they got what they were seeking
> That we not attack on the mainland.
>
> The Russians wanted to recover their lost investment
> but realized that a conflict with UN forces in Europe
> would force the country into Bankruptsy and Stalin would definitely lose his
> reign on power.
>
> I do not know how much the US and Allies spent
> but it must have been a lot larger then NK, China and Russia.
>
> Again another war of attrition.
> DF
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Evanhoe" <evanhoe@arbuckleonline.com>
> To: <KOREAN-WAR-L@listproc.cc.ku.edu>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2003 10:02 PM
> Subject: Re: Book review: Red Wings Over the Yalu: China, the Soviet Union
> and the Ai...
>
> > Dan,
> >
> >  >>At 09:41 PM 7/22/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> > >OK. were they the Chinese doing it or the Koreans?
> > >Did the Koreans fight with the Chinese or did they fight as seperate
> unit?
> > >I am not trying to create and argument. I am sure they could have this.
> <<
> >
> > As I understand it North Korea had responsibility for POWs and ran the
> > camps until the cease-fire talks began in the summer of '51, at which
> point
> > the Chinese realized the value POW had as a bargaining chip.  Reportedly
> > the North Koreans didn't want to give up control so the Chinese moved in
> > and took over the camps by force.  This caused a flap but North Korea had
> > to go along since they were getting the vast majority of food,
> ammunitions,
> > weapons, etc, from the Chinese so couldn't afford for the Chinese to cut
> > them off.   North Korean treatment of POW's was horrific but improved
> after
> > the Chinese took over.
> >
> > (This information from Msg <Rtd> Tim Casey, who keeps the records for the
> > Korean War POW Association.)
> >
> > > >>I am following up on a comment from an earlier posting of a person in
> > > combat against the Chinese. After the battle the Chinese allowed the
> > > Americans to pick up and treat the wounded and care for the dead. <<
> >
> > This happened on several occasions, as did the Chinese releasing POW's and
> > allowing them to cross back to UN lines.  In one instance the Chinese took
> > a group of Marine and Army POW's captured at the Chosen Reservoir,
> escorted
> > them back to the front and then abandoned them as the front moved
> > north.  This group was recovered by a tank-infantry task force from the
> 7th
> > Infantry Division.  (The Marines classified this as an "escape" but the
> > Army classified it as a "release.)
> >
> > > >>He followed up that this would not have happened with the NK and that
> the
> > >Chinese were a more disciplined army. <<
> >
> > Agree.
> >
> > Ed
> >