Why didn't Gen. MacArthur bomb and invade China in the early 1950's?

Question

Was it because of Russia's nuclear umbrella policy?

thank you

Answer 1

They didn't have any oil?

Answer 2

Because the political leadership had better sense then he did and the higher military brass was much better at strategic planning and tactical thinking. The U.S. bombing of China proper, much less an invasion of China, would have resulted in a huge war which the U.S. would have lost. The nuclear capability of te U.S. was limited at that time-ICBMs were not available nor submarines for sea launch so delivery would have been manned bombers against air defenses which is a tricky thing. The Chinese ground forces would be fighting in their backyard and us a long line of supply; so,, it would have been a losing wager. If we went nuclear then we would have had to contend with the Russians getting directly involved so more ground troops, tactical/in area nuclear weapons, and their long range bomber having to be kept out of U.S. territory. Mac Aurthur was primarily a politician and thinking we could have or should have invaded China at that time was a recipe for a major defeat; which I am sure would have not been his fault but the commanders who he would leave behind to take the blame after he had to leave because of orders and his personal importance to the nation have again.

Answer 3

Because his mission as commander of the UN Peace Enforcement Mission in Korea was to restore the state of things on that peninsula which existed prior to North Korea invading South Korea. That's what was authorized by the UN Security Council in the resolutions it issued after June 25, 1950. The funny thing is that he had accomplished that mission about six days after the Inchon landing, but decided to chase the North Korean troops northward towards the Yalu River, which forms one of the borders between North Korea and China. That's what brought Chinese troops onto the Peninsula.

Answer 4

To quote General Douglas MacArthur (Prior to the Korean War) "Any one who invades China is a fool"
The reason of course is that because of China's size, and population--invaders, although they may be successful, always end up ABSORBED into China's society and disappear.
Additionally, President Harry Truman, remembering General MacArthur's statement forbade him to do so!
Remember, at the time of the Korean war, General MacArthur had definite political ambitions. Another Army general had ambitions that made him do something stupid. That General was George Armstrong Custer--who thought that beating the Lakhota at the battle of "Little Big Horn" would gain him the presidency.

Answer 5

MacArthur's plan was for Chiang Kai-shek to invade China from the south while he, MacArthur would attack from North Korea, but politics got in the way and Truman actually fired MacArthur for getting too big for his britches.

Answer 6

Truman decided to pass on his second chance to end communism early and spare the military of the 21st century from having to clean up the post cold war mess.

Answer 7

That and the fact China had a million soldiers in uniform massed at the Korean border while the US only had a 100,000+. The US realized a slaughterhouse of US troops would be bad P.R.

Answer 8

MacArthur was never authorized to go outside of the Korean area of conflict, and it was never a decision for him to make, he was a soldier and soldiers have to follow orders.
Any such attempt would have drawn the Soviet Union into the conflict and it would have become a Nuclear conflict.

Answer 9

He was told not too and the thought of having 20 million man army coming head first at our troops, made common sense prevail.

Answer 10

Hmm, maybe because President Truman ordered him not to.

Answer 11

He was removed from command for requesting it. The President didn't approve and he pushed the point.