Defensive Perimeter Strategy

Question 1

Which 3 policies did the USA use to create a US capitalist-democratic military presence in South East Asia to deter the spread of communism?

Answer 1

Policy of Containment
Model States
Defensive Perimeter Strategy (DPS)

Question 2

What was DPS and what was its purpose?

Answer 2

Started from around March 1949
Its was a defensive line of US military bases (e.g. Okinawa and Clark Field) along the perimeter of south east Asia.
Its purpose was to create a US capitalist democratic military presence in south east asia, to prevent the spread of communism.

Question 3

What were:
1. 2 ways DPS was important
2. 2 ways DPS was limited in importance

Answer 3

1. Important:

• Protected the USA’s economic trade interests in south east Asia, as it prevented communism spreading into her trade with Japan (industry), Malaya (rubber) and the Philippines (tin).
• Low-cost defensive line allowed the USA to priories Europe First Policy.

2. Limited in importance:

• Not a collective understanding of the purpose of the policy in the US - US State of Department believed it was a way to create a military presence whereas general MacArthur viewed it as a way to fight a limited war against communism.
• A low cost defensive line would never be completely effective as it didn’t allow the USA to fight a limited war - led to china falling to communism in 1949.