Asia's Cold War Conflicts Timeline: Korea and Vietnam

This comprehensive timeline traces the evolution of two major Asian conflicts from 1945 to 1975, highlighting the escalation of tensions and military engagements in both Korea and Vietnam.

Definition: The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union, with both superpowers supporting opposite sides in regional conflicts.

The Korean Peninsula events (1945-1953):

• Korea's division in 1945 set the stage for future conflict
• The Korean War start occurred in June 1950 with North Korea's invasion
• General MacArthur's Inchon landing marked a crucial turning point
• Chinese intervention in October 1950 expanded the conflict
• The war concluded with a 1953 ceasefire, leaving Korea divided

Highlight: The Korean War represented the first major hot conflict of the Cold War era, establishing the pattern of proxy wars between communist and capitalist powers.

The Vietnam Conflict (1954-1975):

• When did the Vietnam War start officially traces to the 1954 division of Vietnam
• The Vietcong's formation in 1960 marked the beginning of organized resistance
• US involvement escalated dramatically from 1962 to 1968
• The 1968 Tet Offensive proved a psychological turning point
• Who won the Vietnam War became clear in 1975 with communist victory

Example: The Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964 served as a catalyst for increased US military intervention in Vietnam.

Vocabulary:

• Vietnamisation: The policy of gradually withdrawing US troops while training South Vietnamese forces to take over the fighting
• Tet Offensive: A coordinated series of attacks by the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong during the Lunar New Year