China in the Korean War

China became a late but important belligerent during the Korean War and played a significant role in the conflict. The People’s Republic of China entered the conflict in October 1950, with the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) units crossing the Yalu River in secret, in support of the North Korea. Subsequently, Chinese forces launched multiple major campaigns against United Nations (UN) forces and South Korean troops, playing a crucial role in prolonging and shaping the war’s outcome. Throughout the conflict, the PVA engaged in extensive combat operations, logistics build-up, and defensive strategies, eventually deploying over one million personnel at the height of its involvement. The Chinese intervention influenced both battlefield dynamics and the broader geopolitical landscape, contributing to the eventual stalemate and the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953. The PVA's participation resulted in significant casualties and economic costs for China, but also solidified its status as a regional power in the early Cold War period.