(2 of 2)
While Korea trained the Chinese Communist army, it did nothing for the Nationalist Chinese army, which was not allowed to send units to Korea—"a terrible mistake," said Van Fleet. Using Chiang Kai-shek's divisions, said Infantryman Van Fleet, would have told "which of his generals are good in combat and what the Nationalist troops can really do. Even today we do not know that answer."
Besides, said Mark Clark, "the $64 question was: Who would defect to whom?...In my opinion, more of the Chinese Communists would have deserted to our side...Here was a perfect testing ground...When [Chiang's troops] went back to Formosa, they would be much more of a threat to the southern Chinese mainland...My recommendations [to Washington] were never answered."