Question map
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. In 1948, Burma was admitted to the United Nations and immediately supported the USA in the Cold War. 2. In 1948, Burma joined the United Nations but refused to denounce China as the aggressor in the Korean War. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Burma gained independence on January 4, 1948, and was admitted to the United Nations later that year. While Burma initially had a West-leaning policy for nearly two years after independence, it did not immediately support the USA in the Cold War; instead, it quickly transitioned to a neutral, non-aligned path to maintain internal stability and avoid antagonizing major powers. During the Korean War, which broke out in 1950, Burma maintained this non-aligned stance. Specifically, Burma voted against the U.S.-sponsored resolution in the United Nations that sought to condemn and brand Communist China as an aggressor in the Korean War. This refusal to denounce China was a cornerstone of its early independent foreign policy, aimed at balancing relations between the Western superpower and its communist neighbor.
Sources
- [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Anglo-Burmese Relations > p. 128