The First Taiwan Strait Crisis started even as the Korean War began to subside. The CPC intended to reunite the PRC and the ROC, while the KMT wanted to regain control of Mainland China. This situation resulted in tensions over the strategically located Quemoy and Matsu islands in the Taiwan Strait. Both islands are approximately 100 miles west of Taiwan. After Chiang Kai-shek and the nationalists fled from mainland China to Taiwan, Chiang established troops on these two islands. Once the United States removed the Seventh Fleet from the Taiwan Strait in 1954, the KMT attempted to retake Mainland China by launching attacks from these strategic locations. In response, the PRC began shelling these islands. B. US Response After the KMT fled to Taiwan, the United States did not attempt to protect it; however, this situation soon changed due to the Korean War in 1950. The Korean War was the first militarized Cold War conflict and began the containment of communism in the Asia Pacific region. As a result of the war outbreak, the Truman administration sent the Seventh Fleet to the Taiwan Strait to international peace and security.” Truman also stated, “preserve these circumstances the occupation of Formosa (Taiwan) by Communist “In forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area. Accordingly I have ordered the Seventh Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa.” This shift did not guarantee that the United States would use military force to defend the ROC; however, it demonstrated US aggressive intentions and commitment of the United States in defending the ROC from the PRC, and by extension, defending the Asia Pacific from the spread of communism. As a result, the PRC delayed its attack on the ROC in favor of supporting North Korea.
The First Taiwan Strait Crisis started even as the Korean War began to subside. The CPC intended to reunite the PRC and the ROC, while the KMT wanted to regain control of Mainland China. This situation resulted in tensions over the strategically located Quemoy and Matsu islands in the Taiwan Strait. Both islands are approximately 100 miles west of Taiwan. After Chiang Kai-shek and the nationalists fled from mainland China to Taiwan, Chiang established troops on these two islands. Once the United States removed the Seventh Fleet from the Taiwan Strait in 1954, the KMT attempted to retake Mainland China by launching attacks from these strategic locations. In response, the PRC began shelling these islands. B. US Response After the KMT fled to Taiwan, the United States did not attempt to protect it; however, this situation soon changed due to the Korean War in 1950. The Korean War was the first militarized Cold War conflict and began the containment of communism in the Asia Pacific region. As a result of the war outbreak, the Truman administration sent the Seventh Fleet to the Taiwan Strait to “preserve international peace and security.” Truman also stated, “In these circumstances the occupation of Formosa (Taiwan) by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area. Accordingly I have ordered the Seventh Fleet to prevent any attack on Formosa.” This shift did not guarantee that the United States would use military force to defend the ROC; however, it demonstrated US aggressive intentions and commitment of the United States in defending the ROC from the PRC, and by extension, defending the Asia Pacific from the spread of communism. As a result, the PRC delayed its attack on the ROC in favor of supporting North Korea.