Adapting to Reality: the Far East and Cold War Strategy, 1950–54

Abstract

In June 1950, after two years of the Far Eastern tail wagging the strategic dog, the Chiefs of Staff produced a new strategic white paper that not only recognized the new form of struggle known as ‘cold war’, it also accorded preparations to counter it as part and parcel of preparations for hot war. Issued 18 days before North Korea’s invasion of its south- ern neighbor, ‘Defence Policy and Global Strategy’ called for a greater emphasis on Asia and reconfiguration and expansion of the Regular Army for Cold War operations. The new strategy also entailed the development of a unified front of colonial and independent Asian countries — supported by Britain and the United States — to contain Chinese Communism. Thus the strategic framework for the British government’s response to aggression in the Far East was in place before the Korean War even started.