Communism Threats in the Vietnam War
Communist Threat Essay
Australia responded to the threat of communism both internally and externally.
Australia responded to various external threats during the 1950’s. The first threat was the Korean War in 1950 to 1953. Following 1945, Korea had been divided into communist North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and later China, and non-communist South Korea, supported by the United States. North Korea invaded the South, and gained control of almost the entire country. Us president Truman raised the issue to the united nations, and called for a national united nations military force to emit North Korean forces from the South. Australia was one of fifteen nations fighting, involving a squadron of the RAAF, two battalions of the Australian Army and various naval forces. Over 300 Australian soldiers were killed in the Korean War.
In September 1952, Australia signed the ANZUS Treaty with New Zealand and the United States, as the Australian government was convinced that it needed an ally in the Cold War. The Korean War and China’s intervention strengthened these feelings. The Treaty didn’t specifically commit to any parties coming to the assistance of another if they were attacked, but the opinions of the Treaty pointed in that direction. The ANZUS Treaty still exists. The end of the Korean War did not end the communist military action in Asia. Another communist nation, North Vietnam, was created when the Vietnamese forces under Ho Chi Minh defeated the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The United States introduced an alliance for the protection of South-East Asia. In September 1954, the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) formed. It involved the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan and France. SEATO brought the US and Australia even closer, it provided protection against the dangers of communism in the region and backed up the Australian policy of forward defence, to fight potential enemies rather than wait for
Australia responded to the threat of communism both internally and externally.
Australia responded to various external threats during the 1950’s. The first threat was the Korean War in 1950 to 1953. Following 1945, Korea had been divided into communist North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union and later China, and non-communist South Korea, supported by the United States. North Korea invaded the South, and gained control of almost the entire country. Us president Truman raised the issue to the united nations, and called for a national united nations military force to emit North Korean forces from the South. Australia was one of fifteen nations fighting, involving a squadron of the RAAF, two battalions of the Australian Army and various naval forces. Over 300 Australian soldiers were killed in the Korean War.
In September 1952, Australia signed the ANZUS Treaty with New Zealand and the United States, as the Australian government was convinced that it needed an ally in the Cold War. The Korean War and China’s intervention strengthened these feelings. The Treaty didn’t specifically commit to any parties coming to the assistance of another if they were attacked, but the opinions of the Treaty pointed in that direction. The ANZUS Treaty still exists. The end of the Korean War did not end the communist military action in Asia. Another communist nation, North Vietnam, was created when the Vietnamese forces under Ho Chi Minh defeated the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The United States introduced an alliance for the protection of South-East Asia. In September 1954, the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) formed. It involved the US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan and France. SEATO brought the US and Australia even closer, it provided protection against the dangers of communism in the region and backed up the Australian policy of forward defence, to fight potential enemies rather than wait for