Originally posted by want to know:
In the 1960s was Vietnam powerful enough to conquer the entire
South East Asia? I remember i read somewhere that Lee Kwan Yew was
afriad that Thailand was not able to hold Vietnam. And Vietnam's
army would just march all the way to Singapore.
The Communist North Vietnam was more interested in reuniting the
entire Vietnam than foreign military adventures, as Vietnam was
divided into North and South by external imposed decisions.
See the following site for a full synopsis of events that led to
the Vietnam Conflict :-
http://sophia.smith.edu/~abloomga/Breorweb01/warstudy/VIETNAM.html
continuing post by want to know:
Is Thailand's army in the 1960s really that lousy? If Vietnam were
to invade Thailand in the 1960s would Vietnam win?
During the Vietnam War, Thailand had contributed troops to
support the US military and political involvement in Vietnam, as
both countries were part of the South East Asian Treaty
Organisation (SEATO), similar to NATO in the northern hemisphere to
protect Northern Atlantic and Europe.
The Thai Army fought well during actions in Vietnam, and if they
are called to defend their own homeland, the Thai Army will be even
more ferocious and more willing to make the ultimate
sacrifice.
Vietnam was supported by Russia and China; while Thailand had the
political and military support of USA, and SEATO.
Both Vietnam and Thailand were proxies of the Communist and the
Capitalist Systems respectively, in a contest of idealogies to win
political and territorial influence - and was part of the
Geo-Politics of the 1950s.
During the 1960s, Vietnam's military was not as developed as the
Thai Military, which had a well equipped and well trained
organisation of General Staff, Artillery, Infantry, Armor, Field
Engineering, Medic, Army Air Wing, and a potent Air Force to
match.
Vietnam's military was largely infantry and artillery, and an
impotent Air Force that was unable to threaten the USAF.
The actions of the Thai Military in the Vietnam War were documented
in military research works, one of which can be read from the
following site:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/Vietnam/allied/index.htm
For more understanding of SEATO, try this site:
http://www.adam-matthew-publications.co.uk/collect/p149.htm
continuing post by want to know:
[quote]China under his leadership had a whoppingly huge army that
easily can roll over the weaker countries of Laos, Cambodia,
Thailand, and down into Peninsular Malaysia.
Mainland Chinese keep saying that China is a very peaceful
country and would never attack other country.
I know this sound very stupid. If China successfully conquer the
entire South East Asia. Would the China's PLA treat overseas
Chinese better than their conquered non-Chinese subjects? Would the
PLA be more lenient on overseas Chinese living in South East Asia
than non-Chinese? [/quote]
China made an unprovoked attack against Vietnam during the late
1979, when Vietnam invaded and refused to withdraw from Cambodia -
which is a client state of China.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/ops/war/prc-vietnam.htm
Will China's PLA treat overseas Chinese better than their conquered
non-Chinese subject, or will the PLA be more lenient on overseas
Chinese living in S.E.Asia than non-Chinese ?
You will have to look at how the PLA treated their own Citizens at
the Tian An Men incident.
In the Communist system, they trust no one.
There is a Political Commisar that has the final say in the manner
that a Field General plan any military action; and the system still
exist to the present day - (a curse from being influenced by the
Russian Communist Ideologies)
There is always someone watching over someone else, and the
population is rewarded for spying on their neighbors.
Constant revolution is the ideal to maintain the purity of the
Communist Ideology, as Mao Tse Tung believe that when a state of
static should happen, the revolution momentum will be lost, and
will allow communism to be corrupted by other ideologies.
This belief from Mao resulted in the wasteful destruction imposed
onto China during his encouragement of the Cultural
Revolution.
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/prc3.html
continuing post by want to know:
Regarding Singapore. Would Singapore Chinese fight(In the 1960s)?
Would the older generation of Singapore Chinese fight against their
fellow Chinese or just surrender(I'm sure most of the members here
are Singapore Chinese. My grandfather comes from China. In the
1960s he should be very well still alive.)? Would the PLA be more
lenient on Singapore than other countries because the majority of
Singaporean are Chinese? I'm sure there are some Pro-China
Singaporean Chinese.
Sorry if my english is bad. Sorry if this sound stupid. Just
thinking what would happen?
You will have to ask your parents, who probably will be around
during that period of the 1960s, and enquire from them if they
would have fought for Singapore.
From historical records, there were Singaporeans who felt that it
was their duty to stand up and defend Singapore against the
Japanese Invasion.
Some of the heroes in the defense of Singapore included Singapore
Malays, Indians, Eurasians, Chinese, English, Aussies; as well as
the same ethnic groups from Peninsula Malaya.
One of the famous Singapore son was Lim Bo Seng, who gave his life
for Singapore; and a Selangor born Malay heroically defending the
hills of Pasir Panjang till his last breath in the name of Lt Adnan
Saidi.
Lim Bo Seng Memorial
http://www.s1942.org.sg/ww2links.htm
Lt Adnan Saidi
http://menj.tripod.com/Pejuang_Bangsa/lt_adnan.htm
WW2 Sites
http://www.s1942.org.sg/ww2links.htm
