The Forward Defence 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 policy would see Australia set up military bases overseas and send Australian troops to Korea, Malay and Vietnam. Therefore, Australia’s involvement in The Korean War and The Malayan Emergency was due to the concept of The Forward Defence Policy. “If there was a war for our existence, it should be carried out as far from our soil as possible”.
In June 1950, war broke out in Korea when communist North Korea invaded capitalist South Korea. The UN responded quickly, sending the military of fifteen nations, including Australia to counter-attack. By the time they had all arrived, the majority of South Korea had been overrun by communist forces and the UN military had to slowly fight back up the Korean Peninsula. The war seemed to defend the fear of communism being spread through Asia. Another part of Asia facing communist threat was Malaya. After WWII, the British re-established their authority in Malaya, but in 1948, a communist association had begun to operate in the Malayan jungles. By 1950 the situation had become known as the Malayan Emergency. An increased number of troops were sent to oppose the communists. In 1955, the Menzies government decided to send ground, air and naval power to assist the British fighting in Malaya. Australian troops remained in Malaya until the communist threat was defeated in 1960.
Prime Minister Robert Menzies was determined to build a more secure position for Australia in the world, “under the US wing”. WWII and the fear of Japanese invasion of Australia was a turning point in Australian foreign policy. Australia now required alliance beyond what Britain could provide. Two new alliance agreements were negotiated to establish Australian security. The ANZUS treaty was signed in 1951 by New Zealand, United States and Australia, promising mutual protection, with the intention of preventing communist expansion and increasing US authority in the Pacific Nation. The parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any one of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific. Article III of the ANZUS Treaty, 1951 Each Party recognises that aggression by means of armed attack in the Treaty Area against any of the Parties or against any State or territory which the Parties by unanimous agreement may hereafter designate, would endanger its own peace and safety, and agrees that it will in that event act to meet the common danger in accordance its constitutional processes.
Article IV of the SEATO Treaty, 1954
Australia got involved in The Vietnam War for many key reasons, one being Australia’s Forward Defence Policy. Australia thought it best to send troops overseas to fight against potential enemies in order to keep a war being fought on our soil. The Domino Theory was also another key development for Australia’s involvement in The Vietnam War. The Domino Belief stated that “if one Asian state fell to communism, then, like falling dominoes, all of Asia would soon fall to communism”. The Domino Theory influenced Australia’s decision to send troops to the Vietnam War in the 1960’s. It also seemed to justify everyone’s fear of communism.
“I subscribe to the domino theory...because I believe it is obvious...that if the Vietnam War ends with some compromise that denies South Vietnam a real and protected independence , Laos and Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia will be vulnerable...this domino theory...has formidable reality to Australians who see the boundaries of aggressive communism coming closer and closer.”
All in all, it is evident that Australia has done well by getting involved in the wars and strengthening bonds with America. Australia had feared The Domino Effect, so the decision to send Australian troops to Vietnam was expected as “the takeover of South Vietnam would be a direct military threat to Australia”.
- Experience of Nationhood-Modern Australia since 1901, Fifth Edition. K J Mason.
- I got most of my information from the worksheets you handed out to us in class.