Meanwhile, the UN had urged that Communist China agree to a cease-fire, during which there could be negotiations for a permanent settlement of the Korean problem. The door was kept open for negotiations by the UN policy of not attacking Chinese bases in Manchuria. But the Chinese Communists made unacceptable demands. They insisted that there could be no discussion of a ceasefire until UN forces withdrew from Korea, the United States ceased protecting the Nationalist Chinese on Taiwan, and the UN recognized Communist China.

MacArthur disagreed with the policy of not carrying the war to the mainland of China. He wanted to bomb Manchuria and make use of Nationalist Chinese troops from Taiwan. On April 11, 1951, Truman dismissed MacArthur because the general had made public his dissatisfaction with the UN policies on conducting the war. Ridgway succeeded MacArthur. Lieutenant General James A. Van Fleet became commander of the 8th Army.

On April 22 the Communists launched a major offensive with 400,000 troops, and again forced UN troops below the 38th parallel. However, by June the UN armies pushed the Communists back.

Responding to a Russian peace feeler, on June 30 General Ridgway proposed a meeting to discuss a cease-fire. Communist China and North Korea promptly agreed. The talks were begun July 10, 1951, at Kaesong. Later the negotiations were transferred to nearby Panmunjom. While the negotiators haggled over terms, fighting went on, with many casualties on both sides. But in fact the war had reached a stalemate.