When did the Chinese join the Korean War?

As a historian specializing in the study of the Korean War, I can provide a detailed account of China's involvement in the conflict. The Korean War, which lasted from 1950 to 1953, was a significant international conflict that involved multiple nations, including the United States, the Soviet Union, and China, among others. The question of when China joined the Korean War is a complex one, as it involves understanding the geopolitical context and the strategic decisions made by the Chinese leadership at the time. The Korean War began on June 25, 1950, when North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union, invaded South Korea. The United Nations, led by the United States, quickly responded with military intervention to support South Korea. As the conflict escalated, the United Nations forces, primarily composed of American troops, began to push back the North Korean forces and moved closer to the border with China. The Yalu River, which serves as a natural border between China and North Korea, became a critical point of concern for the Chinese leadership. China viewed the presence of foreign troops near its border as a significant threat to its national security. The Chinese leadership, under Mao Zedong, was particularly concerned about the possibility of a capitalist, specifically American, presence on its borders, which could potentially serve as a springboard for further aggression. In October 1950, the situation changed dramatically when the People's Republic of China (PRC) decided to intervene in the war. The Chinese forces, known as the People's Volunteer Army (PVA), crossed the Yalu River and entered the Korean War. This intervention was a turning point in the conflict, as it significantly altered the balance of power on the battlefield. The Chinese intervention was not a sudden decision but rather a result of a series of events and strategic considerations. The Chinese leadership had been closely monitoring the progress of the war and had been concerned about the UN forces' rapid advance towards the Yalu River. The decision to enter the war was influenced by several factors: 1. Geopolitical Concerns: China was worried about the potential for an expansion of the conflict into its territory and the possibility of an American presence on its borders. 2. Ideological Commitment: The PRC, being a communist state, felt a sense of solidarity with North Korea, which was also a communist country. 3. Strategic Interests: China saw the Korean War as an opportunity to challenge the influence of the United States and its allies in the region and to assert its own influence. 4. Domestic Politics: The Chinese leadership also saw the war as a means to consolidate its power and to rally the Chinese people around the communist cause. The Chinese intervention had a profound impact on the course of the war. The Chinese forces launched a series of offensives that pushed the UN forces back from the Yalu River and southward. This led to a protracted and bloody conflict that ultimately resulted in a stalemate, with an armistice being signed in 1953 that effectively ended the active hostilities, although a formal peace treaty was never signed. In summary, China's entry into the Korean War in October 1950 was a pivotal moment that reshaped the dynamics of the conflict and had lasting implications for the regional and global balance of power. It was a decision driven by a combination of strategic, ideological, and domestic considerations, and it marked the beginning of China's emergence as a significant player on the international stage.

Those who escaped envelopment and capture were forced back north. UN forces rapidly approached the Yalu River--the border with China--but in October 1950, mass Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and entered the war.