• Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • About
  • Contact

Cold War

Before, During, and After the Cold War

  • Podcast
  • Red Scare
  • Cuba
  • Iran
  • Urbanization
  • Spy
  • Afghanistan
  • Taiwan
  • Vietnam
  • Timelines
Q is for Quemoy

Q is for Quemoy

January 31, 2018 by Lisa Reynolds Wolfe

A challenge that would trigger action by the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization was successfully blunted in 1954 and 1955 when the Chinese Communists threatened the offshore islands of Quemoy, Matsu, and the Tachens, islands which lay between Mainland China and Taiwan. As the communists shelled the islands and then announced the imminent “liberation” of Taiwan, Eisenhower warned that any “liberation forces” would have to run over the American Seventh Fleet stationed in the Formosa Straits.

US Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, flew to Taiwan in December and signed a mutual defense pact with Chiang Kai- shek, pledging that the US would defend Chiang in return for his promise not to try to invade the mainland without American approval. The treaty was signed on December 2, 1954, and went into effect on March 3, 1955. Nothing was said in the pact about the offshore islands.

On January 18, 1955, the communists took the small northernmost island of the Tachen group. Eisenhower declared that, because this island had no relationship to the defense of Taiwan, the attack required no counteraction. Within five days, however, he asked Congress for authority “to assure the security of Formosa [Taiwan] and the Pescadores [Matsu and the rest of the Tachen group]” and, if necessary, “closely related localities.” Congress whipped through the resolution by a vote of 409 to 3 in the House and 85 to 3 in the Senate.

On August 23, 1958, just as China was embarking on the Great Leap Forward (goal: to concentrate 20 years of Soviet-style development into a single year), China began shelling the offshore islands of Quemoy and Matsu which were occupied by the forces of Taiwan. The American Seventh Fleet shipped Taiwanese reinforcements to the islands, and provided extra artillery capable, at least in theory, of firing atomic shells. Mao appealed for Soviet nuclear weapons, but Khruschev responded only with assurances that the Soviet Union would come to China’s support if the Americans actually attacked. For China this was betrayal. Khruschev said:

We didn’t want to give them the idea we were their obedient slaves, who would give them whatever they wanted, no matter how much they insulted us.

Want the full alphabet?

Download a copy of COLD WAR UNVEILED: ARMS RACE T0 ZDANOV DOCTRINE.

It’s Free!

Photograph of the USS Midway by Herb Neufeld (Flickr)

Filed Under: Cold War Historical Overview

Stay Up to Date: Join Cold War Studies

Sign up to receive email updates and our latest blog posts.

About Lisa Reynolds Wolfe

Widely published, Lisa holds a Ph.D. in Politics from New York University and a Master of Science in Policy Analysis and Public Management from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Areas of particular interest and expertise include Cold War Studies, sustainable development, heritage, and the environment.

How Much Do You Know?

Want to find out how much you really know about the Cold War. Click here to take our quiz. 

Disappointed with your results. Join Cold War Studies and Download our free ebook  Cold War History A to Z. You’ll get a quick and easy pathway to instant expertise.

Join Cold War Studies and Get Our Free E-Book

Want a quick deep dive into the Cold War? Join Cold War Studies and get Cold War History A to Z for free. You'll also receive occasional email updates and our latest blog posts.

We respect your privacy and will never share your information

Most Popular Posts

Cold War Chile

Egypt Transfers Loyalty From The USSR To The US In The Middle Of The Cold War

Cold War Argentina: The Dirty War

Dr. Seuss and the Cold War

The First Red Scare: A Timeline

Follow Us On Twitter

Check Out Our Red Scare White Paper

Read all about the Red Scare. Just click on the cover below.

Read a Cold War Studies White Paper on Cuban Agriculture

Read all about Cuban Agriculture. Just click on the image for easy access.

Read a Cold War Studies White Paper on Cold War FACTS

Get the inside scoop on the Cold War.  Just click on the image to get started.

Copyright © 2022 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in