Asia first
Encyclopedia
The Asia First strategy was pushed for in the early 1950s by the powerful 'China Lobby
' of the Republican Party in the United States
, strongly supported by US General Douglas MacArthur
.
The Asia First strategy called for the future concentration of American resources in the Far East
to fight against the encroaching spread of Communism
, in a similar way to the Marshall Plan
and Truman Doctrine
in Europe
. US resources in Europe would therefore be reduced to a bare minimum.
The policy was suggested in a period of great anxiety in the USA as Cold War
tensions were heightened following the Korean War
, 1950-53 and the rise of Communism in China
in 1949 . These tensions put great pressure on President Truman
to adopt this policy, but ultimately he rejected it fearing that it would pin the USA down in the Far East dealing with a 'secondary enemy' - the People's Republic of China
- whilst the Soviet Union
, his real concern, would have a free hand in Europe.
Truman did however make some attempts to strengthen the American position in the Far East, but not at the expense of Europe. In 1950 the US promised military assistance to the French in the struggle against the Communist Viet Minh
in Indochina. In 1951 the United States signed a peace treaty with Japan
allowing US troops to remain stationed at Okinawa and tying Japan to the US. Also in the period 1950-51 US reinforcements were sent to Korea
to strengthen the US military position there. In this period the US navy was also steamed into the Formosa Straits as a deterrent to prevent conflict between the Chinese nationalists
who had escaped to the island of Formosa and the Chinese communists in mainland China.
China Lobby
In United States politics, the China lobby refers to any special interest group acting on behalf of the governments of either the People's Republic of China or the Republic of China to influence Sino-American relations. During most of the twentieth century, the term "China lobby" was usually used...
' of the Republican Party in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, strongly supported by US General Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
.
The Asia First strategy called for the future concentration of American resources in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
to fight against the encroaching spread of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, in a similar way to the Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
and Truman Doctrine
Truman Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine was a policy set forth by U.S. President Harry S Truman in a speech on March 12, 1947 stating that the U.S. would support Greece and Turkey with economic and military aid to prevent their falling into the Soviet sphere...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. US resources in Europe would therefore be reduced to a bare minimum.
The policy was suggested in a period of great anxiety in the USA as Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
tensions were heightened following the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, 1950-53 and the rise of Communism in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1949 . These tensions put great pressure on President Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
to adopt this policy, but ultimately he rejected it fearing that it would pin the USA down in the Far East dealing with a 'secondary enemy' - the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
- whilst the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, his real concern, would have a free hand in Europe.
Truman did however make some attempts to strengthen the American position in the Far East, but not at the expense of Europe. In 1950 the US promised military assistance to the French in the struggle against the Communist Viet Minh
Viet Minh
Việt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
in Indochina. In 1951 the United States signed a peace treaty with Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
allowing US troops to remain stationed at Okinawa and tying Japan to the US. Also in the period 1950-51 US reinforcements were sent to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
to strengthen the US military position there. In this period the US navy was also steamed into the Formosa Straits as a deterrent to prevent conflict between the Chinese nationalists
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
who had escaped to the island of Formosa and the Chinese communists in mainland China.