Reasons for Australia's Involvement in the Vietnam War

Question 1

Ideological differences:

Answer 1

• Between capitalism and communism
• prevent the spread of communism though South Asia and eventually into Australia
• Different beliefs made people skeptical of communism
• Fear of growing alliances between communists when China and North Korea turned in 1949
• Warsaw pact of 1945 between soviets and Eastern European allies
• “Domino theory”, if one country fell to communism all would fall like a row of dominoes.

Question 2

Threat of communism inside Australia:

Answer 2

• Anti-communist propaganda spread through Australia
• Fear of the rise of Communist Party of Australia which lead to the Communist Dissolution Bill (1950) and the referendum against communism (1951)
• Petrov affair: A Soviet known as Valdimir Petrov defected and the announcement of a royal commission into a Soviet spy ring in Australia occurred in April, 1954.
• Petrov affair lead to more widespread fear that communists had infiltrated the government and the courts

Question 3

Threat of communism in the Asia-Pacific region:

Answer 3

• Multiple proxy wars against communism lead to Australia’s involvement (forward defence policy)
• Korean War (1950-53): Began after North Korea and China (both communist) invaded democratic and US-backed South Korea. Leading to a war on the Korean peninsula.
• China’s turn to communism: Poor Chinese farmers and people were staying poor under the previous government and so the Chinese Communist Party was formed. After WW2 they gained momentum and overthrew the previous government, making China communist.
• The Malayan Emergency (1948-60): The Malayan emergency was when the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) tried to overthrow the government and make them a communist nation.

Question 4

Australia’s alliance with the United States of America:

Answer 4

• ANZUS treaty (Australia, New Zealand and United States): Signed in 1951 and was an agreement between the above countries for mutual protection.
• SEATO treaty (Southeast Asian Treaty Organisation): Signed in 1954 and was a defence agreement between Australia, US, Great Britain, France, NZ, Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan.

Question 5

Australia’s Support for South Vietnam in their war with North Vietnam:

Answer 5

• Stems a lot from support from the US. Committed troops to South Vietnam because the US were looking to their allies for support.
• Wanted to stop the domino theory from reaching into Vietnam as well.
• The Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam and the US took South Vietnam.
• North Vietnam became ruled by Ho Chi Minh who was a strong communist supporter. Tried to invade South Vietnam leading to US (and allies like Australia and NZ) intervention.