General Sun Li Jen and
General Douoglas MacArthur

This photo image, from MacArthur Memorial Photo Collection, shows him leading his officers during World War II campaigns in the Philippine Islands.

MacArthur, a general and a great leader, started his Oriental career in 1935 as the military adviser (and field marshal) for the Philippines. Despite inadequate funds and resource, he built a Filipino defense force in six years. He officially retired from the U.S. Army in December 1937, but he was recalled to active duty in 1941 by the Government of the United States.

MacArthur conducted a valiant delaying action against the Japanese in the Philippines. Then, he went to Australia in March 1942 to command the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific Theater against Japan. He launched offenses in New Guinea against Japanese troops, either neutralized them or isolated them by cutting off their supply route. He had done these when the U.S. government put its effort mostly in Europe against Germany, and the support in the Pacific area was limited.

He mounted valiant reconquests of the Philippines and other islands against Japan, and he was well know for his achievement.

He was promoted to general of the army in December 1944, and was appointed commander of all U.S. army forces in the Pacific four months later. He was in charge of the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay on Sept. 2, 1945. He was the Allied commander of the Japanese occupation in 1945-51. He also rehabilitated Japan during this tenure.

Meanwhile, the swift growth of Soviet-backed communist power in China between 1945 and 1949 made the United States feel uneasy. Communists controlled Chinese mainland, and Chiang Kai Shek stepped down as president on January 21, 1949. On February 11, 1949, General Douglas MacArthur sent a special envoy led by a major general to Taiwan. He invited General Sun to Tokyo for a talk. Sun did not immediately accept the invitation. He asked for permission of Chiang Kai Shek, through Chen Cheng, Chiang's right-hand man and governer of the Southeast China at that time. After Chiang agreed, Sun flew to Japan in MacArthur's private jet. MacArthur told Sun that the United States would like Sun to assume the responsibility of safeguarding Taiwan. The American would give him full support, be it money or arms. Gen. Sun suggests that he would back Chiang in defending Taiwan. When he returned to Taiwan, he briefed Chen Cheng on his talk with MacArthur and asked Chen to tell Chiang.

The Korean War started in June 1950, and MacArthur became the commander of the United Nations forces. Soon Mao Tsetung order Chinese volunteers into the peninsula. Once, At this time, General Sun wanted to launch an attack in Southern China to recapture China, but his plan was not adopted by Chiang Kai Shek.

President Chiang Kai Shek and his top military leaders, including General Sun, greeted General MacArthur at the airport when MacArthur visited Taiwan from Tokyo when the Korean War was in progress. MacArthur wanted Taiwan's participation in the Korean War after massive Communist troops pushing into South Korea. This photograph shows the two generals shaking hands. Chiang stood in the center between them in the background further away from the camera. On request from MacArthur, General Sun wanted to open another war front to retake China, but Chiang refused his plan. Chiang further indicated to General Sun that he would be willing to send military personnel and troops to Korea empty-handed, and receive weapons and ammunitions from the U.S. in Korea. Sun considered such a move suicidal. He wanted the troops to receive proper training with the weapons they are going to use and he would like them to be trained in Taiwan. Taiwan did not send any troops to Korea for the Korean War.

When massive Chinese troops went into Korea, MacArthur demanded the authority to blockade China's coastline and bomb its Manchurian bases. Truman refused for fear of bringing the Soviet Union into the war. In response, MacArthur appealed directly to the American public in an effort to enlist support for his war aims. On April 11, 1951, President Truman relieved MacArthur of his duties, and appointed General Matthew B. Ridgway as the UN commander and as commander of U.S. forces in the Far East.