June 27
1950 Following the outbreak of the Korean War, U.S. President Harry S Truman ordered General Douglas MacArthur to move the U.S. Seventh Fleet into the Taiwan Strait to halt Nationalist attacks on mainland China and to block any attack by Communist forces on Nationalist-held Taiwan. Below is an excerpt from Truman's public announcement of this measure:
Voices from Asian History
U.S. President Harry S Truman, June 27, 1950
"[T]he occupation of Formosa by Communist forces would be a direct threat to the security of the Pacific area and to United States forces performing their lawful and necessary functions in that area."
"The determination of the future status of Formosa must await the restoration of security in the Pacific, a peace settlement with Japan, or consideration by the United Nations."
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