Australia Involvement In The Vietnam War Analysis

The cold war period was marked as an ideological warfare between communism and capitalism. The concept and fear of communism was perceived as major threat to the democratic nations including Australia. Due to Australia’s fear of communism it became actively involved in the Vietnam War. There were underlying factors which led Australia to become engaged in the Vietnam War. These predominant reasons included the SEATO and ANZUS treaties, the domino theory and more importantly forward defence policy. It can be stated these factors will provide an evaluation and analysis in regards to considering whether Australia provided a satisfactory reason to its involvement in the Vietnam War.
An underlying reason that led Australia’s involvement in the
The ANZUS and SEATO alliance were the cornerstones of Australian foreign policy in the cold war world and were regarded as the great diplomatic achievement. Although the Korean War reinforced Australia’s fear of communism, it secured arm alliance for Australia with the United States. In addition the ANZUS stands for Australia, new Zealand and the united states their agreement was to come to another’s aid in the event attack. However the SEATO the Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation provided for defensive action to be taken in the event of an attack on the United States, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the Philippines or Pakistan. South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos were also guaranteed protection under the treaty’s security arrangements. Australia joined both ANZUS and SEATO for protection against communism and the opposing countries. ANZUS was developed so there was extra security throughout the regions, so when any country was under the threat of attack the other parts of the alliance would come to their aid. SEATO was established to stop the spread of communism throughout Southeast Asia and towards the western countries. The wording of the treaty was much stronger than that of ANZUS. It bound each member to come to others aid in the event of external aggression. It is evidently stated by an editorial from the Sydney morning
The Forward Defense Policy was based on the concept that it was in Australia’s best interest to meet any threats to Australia as far away from the mainland as possible. This method of defense basically gave Australia more time, and wiped out a few 100 communists. It was Australia’s method to helping their allies fight against countries so they don’t arrive in Australia ground. Australian troops were frequently being sent overseas because of their support with the United States. This procedure of forward defense would get Australia setting up military bases outside Australia and it would convey them to Korea, Malay and Vietnam. This policy rooted that ‘it’s better to fight then over there than here’. This would control communism, forbidding it from spreading any further across Asia and eventually Australia. Since Menzies was a firm supporter in Forward defence, Menzies himself stated “We either commit ourselves with great friends and allies or we do not. If we do not, than then we must attend to our own defence… If there is a war of our own existence it should be carried out as far from our soil as possible". Forward defence required the fusion of Australia with its powerful allies. These "great friends" are Great Britain, our traditional ally, and the United States. Given that the United States became more actively involved in the Vietnam War,