Southeast Asia and the Power Triangle - USA, USSR, PRC

Abstract

Britain and the United States had been the major determinants of developments in Southeast Asia. These Atlantic allies were also allies in the Pacific, but in 1967 the British Labour Government announced its policy of withdrawal from East of Suez. In 1969 President Nixon enunciated his "Guam Doctrine", signalling American intention to eventually disengage from Vietnam. In 1971 Nixon continued this policy by introducing the "China card" into international diplomacy, thus "triangulating" what had been a bi-polar situation. In 1975, the United States suffered a reversal in Southeast Asia. North Vietnam overran South Vietnam and communist forces also formed the governments in Laos and Cambodia. The reduced Western military presence in Southeast Asia was matched by an increased diplomatic presence of both China and Russia in the member-states of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations); while in 1971, there were no Chinese embassies, in 1975, there were three and in 1967, there were three Russian embassies, in 1975, four and in 1976 five.