Nixon Saves China

Many years ago I heard this story from a few Koreans while I was in Korea. And then again from a few military personnel I had met right after Former President Nixon’s death.  Both stories were basically about the same with only a few differences here and there. So please bear with me as I try to type out something that I’m recalling from almost 20 years ago.

During the time of the Nixon Administration, winter time was approaching the Korean people. Separating the Northern and Southern parts of the peninsula was a long series of fences and land mines. All except for one area where a huge lake (or river) which ran across part of the line. This area was patrolled but saw no real action as the water was very deep and in no way could be used as a military target. Except during the winter time.

On many occasions, the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il wanted to restart the war but China was becoming more reluctant in supporting another war especially with the threat of nuclear weapons being used by the Americans if they should support the South Koreans. After getting no were with China, North Korea turned to the Soviet Union for help.

After a few meetings a plan was put together for a winter assault where the Americans would be too late to mobilize any form of real counter attack including the South Koreans as well. When the winter weather freezes the water almost all the way to the bottom, North Korean forces would drive across the frozen water and take out any opposition, working their way down towards the southern peninsula.

The Soviet Union would send their troops in behind the North Koreans to secure the area and establish outpost in case of counter attacks from other nations. But the Chinese government was unaware of these plans. And when the Soviet forces came across the Chinese boarder, they would do so without the blessing or support of the Chinese government. But someone was watching these two countries plan their attack on South Korea.

As spy planes and satellites were takings pictures while monitoring the communication traffic between North Korea and the Soviet Union, the U.S. Government knew that something was about to happen.  They saw Soviet troops what looked like an invasion force lining up with the Mongolia and Chinese boarders close to the North Korean border. They also watch North Korean forces move their men and equipment moving towards the South Korean border.

President Nixon was briefed of the situation and decided to notify the Chinese government. But there was a problem. There was no real diplomatic relations with China. And as soon as word got out about their knowledge of what was being planned, the Soviets could easily cancel their plans, making America look like idiots of trying to cause problems between the Soviet Union and Chine. Basically make Nixon look like he wanted another Vietnam War in Korea.

President Nixon decided to try another approach. He had all the reports; pictures, recordings all sent on using multiple planes to meet with the Chinese officials. The currier was non-other than the Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He presented all the evidence of what the North Korean and the Soviet Union were planning. At first the Chinese officials didn’t believe him but as they sent their own people to investigate, they were surprised at what they had discovered.

The North Koreans were moving all their forces to the area near the border zone as well as seeing Russian troops massing their forces along the Chinese borders. An army so large that they could easily occupy all of Korea but what scared the Chinese leaders was that a section of those forces was angle to go through the capital of Beijing. And then all hell breaks loose.

The Chinese military is called out to the border along the Soviet Union as the Chinese officials make phone calls to the Soviet and North Korean Leaders. As war was about to break out something else happened that caused to Soviets and North Koreans to cancel their invasion plans; warm weather.

The body of water that was to freeze solid so trucks, tanks, armor personnel vehicles as well as troops could cross over never froze. In what many Koreans had called a very unusually warm winter. It was the first time in many years that the Korean people had a warm winter. And with that none of the North Koreans could launch their attacks. Plus US forces was moving their forces near the border being described as training exercises.

Soviet forces leave the Chinese borders as word get to the Soviet leader that the American forces are stepping up their military presence in South Korea as was the Chinese and South Korean forces were on high alert. This was the final chance for North Korea to take over South Korea using their military. After that day, U.S. and South Korean military increased their patrol of the Korean border zone. And the Chinese began increasing their military forces as well for a possible Soviet attack.

Not long afterwards President Nixon was able to go to China and be known as the man who saved China. A trade agreement was made between both nations that are still in place today. For good or bad, a war was averted as nuclear options were suggested to be used on Korean and Chinese soil. And the relationship between the Soviet Union and America were more opened up as the Soviet leaders were fearful of having China and America working together against the Soviet Union.  And to this day the Chinese government still does not trust Russia.