Eisenhower’s use of nuclear diplomacy to deter the spread of communism can be seen through the Taiwan Straits crisis and ending of the Korean War. America has always had a preference for rapid mobilization and demobilization when in conflict throughout its history. If elected, the future president had promised to look into ending the Korean War, even visiting Korea after being elected, but not yet being inaugurated. U.S. officials during the spring of 1953 sent hints to China that Eisenhower was willing to expand U.S. military into Chinese territory or even use nuclear weapons in an effort to end the war. It is believed that this, along with Soviet concerns of increased U.S. military escalation, helped encouraged China and Korea to reach a …show more content…
This had no real strategic value, but was symbolic. A loss of the islands could lead to a loss of morale and the eventual take-over by communism. The Taiwan Strait crisis escalated during a news conference where President Eisenhower, once again employing his form of nuclear diplomacy, stated that he would authorize tactical nuclear weapons against military targets much like “you would use a bullet (Pach, Chester, “Eisenhower: Foreign Affairs”).” The bombardment finally stopped in April of 1954. Although it is unclear if Eisenhower’s nuclear threats are completely responsible for this or not, one can safely take away from this crisis that Eisenhower relied heavily on nuclear diplomacy to come to a solution. He was not afraid of massive retaliation ot threatening it. A second Taiwan Strait crisis would later occur in 1958, with the People’s Republic of China again bombarding the off-shore islands of Jinmen and