14) President Nixon's policies in Viet Nam Flashcards
Nixon presidency
1969-1974
anti-communist
expanded and ended US involvement in Viet Nam
Vietnamization
Watergate scandal
Nixon family ranch failed in 1922
Established direct relations with the PCR
Nixon’s aims in Viet Nam
encourage North Viet Nam to negotiate
withdrawal and de-Americanisation of Viet Nam
limit US engagement in foreign, unwinnable conflicts
Vietnamization
strengthen political security as president
How did Nixon re-enforce his aims in Viet Nam
re-introduced bombing campaign (to get them to negotiate)
helped S,Vietnamese army by improving pay, career structures, benefits and service conditions modernised
ARVN increased from 82,000 in 1968 to 1 million in 1970
invasion of Loas and Cambodia
Vietnamization
Passing on responsibility and accountability for Viet Nam to Viet Nam via training of troops
Success of Vietnamization
ARVN forces become somewhat capable, they successfully resisted the spring offensive from the North in 1972
decrease in US causalities (increase in ARVN)
bombing showed that the US had not left S, Viet Nam defenceless
Challenges of Vietnamization
rushed
moral remained low- high causality rates and problems of favouritism
still relied on the US
fighting a political war
Extension into Cambodia
March 1969
aimed to sever supply lines (Ho Chi Minh trail)
pressure the north
Actions of the North due to extension to Cambodia
support the Khmer Rouge (communist party)
Causes the US to commit troops to Cambodia in April 1970
Operation Menu
March 1968-May 1970
SAC
bombing offensive that targeted ‘‘safe’’ places in Cambodia
cross border raids
USA commit 20,000 ground troops to Cambodia
Extension into Loas
1972
assault was carried out by ARVN forces with US support
Operation Lam Son 719- US plan to support an ARVN invasion of Laos
Aim to disrupt supply lines and prevent an invasion into the south
inadequate forces meant the ARVN was forced to withdraw
US backed government in Cambodia
led by pro US general Lon Nol
N, Viet Nam supported an anti-Lon Nol party the Khmer Rouge
feared a communist take over would led to a ‘Red Asia’ (domino theory) and undermine Vietnamization
Home opposition to the extension
very unpopular and in January 1971, the Gulf of Tonkin resolution was officially removed
overall success of the extension into Cambodia and Laos
no strategic gains
highlighted ARVNs weaknesses even after vietnamization
Showed ARVN could only face the North with US support
Strengthened the Khmer Rouge
destroyed lots of Jungle and Norther supplies
committed to Lon Nol
aims of the US towards China
better relations
end Chinese isolation, very dangerous for such a big country to be so isolated
China was a major communist political power by the 1970s that was separate from the USSR
the US needed to reconcile with one power
Aims of the PCR towards the US
reduce the treat from the USSR by opening a deal with the USA
end self-imposed isolation
didn’t reject the idea that the US was a threat but they were a much less immediate one than the USSR (due to their deteriorating relations)
weak from cultural revolution
Actions of the US to better relations with China
-relaxation of trade and travel restrictions (July 1969)
-artichoke approach (slowly)
-had diplomatic contacts through France, Romania and Pakistan which promoted US willingness
-However, the invasions of Laos and Cambodia caused frictions
-US limit support for Taiwan which results in the PCR becoming the soul Chinese representative in the UN (1971)
actions of the PRC to better relations
Chinese prime minister achieves victory OVER other contestants who opposed Sino-US relations (1970)
policy shifts away from dual confrontation
Kissinger visits Beijing (July 1971)
Death of Moa’s successor who opposed these relations
Nixon’s visit to China
Feb 1972
accumulation of the Sino-US easing of relations
First round of the Paris peace talks about Viet Nam
Johnson begins them in 1968 but they stalled for a few reasons:
-US bombing campaign
-South were refusing to negotiate if the NFL were present at the talks
-North were currently on the defensive and would not accept an offer that made them look weak (which is what the US wanted)
second round of Paris peace talks
1971-72
Kissinger meets secretly with communist advisor Le Duc Tho to preceded these talks, needed both a political AND military solution
USA didn’t want to accept a coalition government and ‘abandon’ the south because they feared its collapse
talks changed in 1972 when the North changed there stance on allowing the Southern leader Thieu to stay
Paris Peace agreement terms
Jan 1973
US had 60 days to remove all troops
US prisoners of war were to be released
ceasefire declared through Viet Nam
territorial integrity would remain, as set out by the 1954 Geneva accords
elections to be held in both north and south
US removal of troops from Viet Nam
All gone by March 1973
When did the Viet Nam war end
April 1975
Viet Nam was now a united communist state- US humiliation
