ABSTRACT
On June 25, 1950, war between North and South Korea erupted following many provocations by the American puppet Syngman Rhee, leader of the South Korean regime. North Korean forces launched a surprise attack, soon pushing the South Korean army to the bottom of the peninsula. As United Nations forces led by the United States approached the Yalu River, members of the Chinese Communist Party debated China’s response. Stalin and Kim Il-sung both urgently requested Chinese troops be sent to stop the advance of United Nations forces and prevent the collapse of the North Korean regime. China’s decision to intervene on behalf of its fraternal ally was made on the basis of particular circumstances, including the domestic situation in China, Sino-North Korean relations, Sino-Soviet relations, and Sino-U.S. relations. The UN advance north was a tremendous threat to the security of Manchuria and the immediate concern of Mao Zedong.
