1/ The #KoreanWar killed millions of Koreans, created an enduring division, and destroyed a relatively developed economy that survived the ravages of WWII. But the war’s impact reverberated beyond the peninsula. A thread about its global consequences on its 70th anniversary. 
2/ The war killed almost 40k Americans. At home, it stirred widespread anti-Communist fears and emboldened Republican critics of the Truman administration. It also led to the adoption of NSC-68, which dramatically expanded the US military and globalized containment strategy.
3/ The war heightened domestic fears in China too. Calling the conflict the “War to Resist America and Aid Korea” 抗美援朝战争, the new Communist government suppressed dissent and consolidated its authority via campaigns like the Three-anti and Five-anti Campaigns 三反五反运动.
4/ In the short term, the war enhanced the USSR's position by cementing its alliance with China and N. Korea while bleeding the US. “Fighting imperialism has become more cheerful,” Stalin quipped. But in the long term, US militarization led to an arms race USSR could not match.
5/ For Japan, the war was an economic boon. US procurement further stimulated an economic recovery already underway. Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru called the war “A gift of the gods.” Automaker Toyota claimed procurement demand for its trucks saved the company.
6/ For Taiwan, the war was a political gift. Chiang Kai-shek’s tottering regime was saved by US intervention and won a PR coup with Chinese POWs opting to “return” to Taiwan instead of China—all without firing a shot.
7/ The war also created the first crack in US-UK alliance. Alarmed that US might employ nuclear weapons and start WWIII, PM Clement Attlee personally traveled to DC to dissuade Truman. The UK viewed the bomb as a joint Anglo-American project and sought a voice in its use.
8/ The US-UK alliance was also tested elsewhere. US leaders were unhappy with UK efforts to exempt Hong Kong from onerous trade restrictions in the US and UN embargoes. They were miffed that the UK seemed more interested in protecting its colony than supporting the war effort.
9/ As for Hong Kong, the war had mixed impact. Trade was initially hurt by the embargoes but quickly boomed. HK exports to China rose from US$8.5 mil. in 1950 to $429.8 mil. in 1951 and $135.1 mil. in 1952. The war enhanced HK's traditional role as entrepôt for Chinese trade.
10/ Some HK businessmen earned handsome profits supplying China. Future tycoon Henry Fok 霍英東 made his initial fortune shuttling smuggled goods between HK, Macao, and Guangdong on his boat “Black Cat” 黑貓號 and later played a key role in China's reforms and HK's handover.
11/ As for Macao, the Portuguese colony unofficially served as a node for smuggling and intelligence. Middlemen like Ho Yin 何賢 and Jose Pedro Lobo (AKA “Dr. Lobo”) benefited by playing all sides of the conflict and eventually paving the way for Chinese control over the colony.
12/ There are undoubtedly many other episodes I have not mentioned, but this thread should highlight how the #KoreanWar held far-reaching repercussions that await further research and how adopting a global perspective could uncover some surprising connections. /END
