Chinese deception tactics and US self-deception on the Yalu River – 1950

We discuss how China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) used excellent deception to outmanoeuvre US forces during the Korean War in 1950. We examine the Chinese deception tactics that led to one of the most significant surprises in modern military history — the PLA crossing the Yalu River undetected and launching a counteroffensive against MacArthur’s UN forces, resulting in the largest retreat in the history of the United States Army.

Learn how the US Army’s intelligence failures and operational self-deception enabled China to conceal the movement of over 300,000 troops. From night marches to operational security, the PLA’s tactics provide timeless lessons on information warfare and military strategy. We explore key insights from Sun Tzu, Mao Zedong, and Chinese military doctrine, comparing PLA deception methods to classic operations like Operation Bertram at El Alamein.

In this episode:

How the North Korean invasion shocked US and South Korean forces.
The operational mistakes that led MacArthur to dismiss warnings from China.
How Zhou Enlai’s diplomatic messages were ignored, contributing to US defeat.
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir and the “Miracle of Christmas” evacuation from Hungnam.

We examine source material from:
Barton Whaley’s Deception and Surprise in War.
Weaving a Tangled Web - Korean War chapter by Joseph Babb.
US Army doctrine on Chinese tactics and military deception.

Whether you're a military history enthusiast, student of modern warfare, or professional interested in information operations, this video delivers a detailed case study of deception’s critical role in shaping battlefield outcomes.

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#KoreanWar #MilitaryHistory #ColdWar #ChineseArmy #MacArthur
#PLA #Deception #YaluRiver #BattleTactics #InformationWarfare
#ChineseMilitaryHistory #USArmyHistory #PME #JPME #professionalmilitaryeducation

00:00 Chinese Deception in Korea Intro
01:05 Yalu River Surprise Attack
02:45 Sun Tzu and Mao’s Tactics
03:36 Hiding PLA Troops from US
04:41 North Korea’s Surprise Invasion
05:34 US Intelligence Failures
06:26 False Peace Talks and Raids
07:19 MacArthur’s Incheon Landing
08:17 PLA Night Movement Strategy
09:18 Ignoring China’s Warnings
10:19 Truman Meets MacArthur
11:20 Zhou Enlai’s Final Warning
12:15 China Crosses Yalu Undetected
13:11 MacArthur’s Wrong Assumptions
14:16 US Self-Deception Explained
15:24 Peng’s Ambush Plan Revealed
16:10 China’s Information Superiority
17:10 Ignored POW Intelligence
18:06 Info Advantage: China vs US
18:58 PLA Operational Security
20:00 Lure, Ambush, and Surprise
20:59 PLA Prepares Second Offensive
21:53 Targeting South Korean Weakness
22:56 Chinese Counterattack Starts
24:01 MacArthur’s Yalu Flyover
24:55 Chosin Reservoir Battle
25:47 Hungnam Evacuation Miracle
26:40 SS Meredith Victory Rescue
27:35 China’s Deception Success
28:09 Lessons from PLA Deception