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.htmlcontinuing 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.htmFor more understanding of SEATO, try this site:
http://www.adam-matthew-publications.co.uk/collect/p149.htmcontinuing 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.htmWill 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.htmlcontinuing 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.htmLt Adnan Saidi
http://menj.tripod.com/Pejuang_Bangsa/lt_adnan.htmWW2 Sites
http://www.s1942.org.sg/ww2links.htm