Its Powerful Neighbors

Another hidden aspect to our perpetual war engaging society, is our peculiar alliances. In the past the United States has taken part in a certain somewhat

The United States did not have a favorable relationship with the Soviet Union during the Cold War due to the Soviet’s desire to spread communism. In the midst of the ideological battle between the United States and the Soviets, U.S. sought attention to whole Southeast Asia due to the radical dispersion of Communism. North Vietnam formed an alliance with the Soviet Union, and China to unite the country into a communist regime. As an international peace keeper, the United States decided to fund the French and eventually send military troops to Vietnam to help in combat he North Vietnamese guerillas, and contain the spread of communism before it escalates in full-scale across all of Southeast Asia. The Marshall Plan urged the United States to

In the, The Unquiet Frontier, by Grygiel and Mitchell they explain how during the 21st century, the United States maintains a strategic alliance with frontier powers such as, Taiwan, Israel and Poland. Strategically, it is a strategic move for the United States to have alliances near powers like China, Iran and Russia because it prevents those states from probing and allows for the United States to maintain their presence. However, critics argue that by being allied with small insufficient states as noted by Grygiel and Mitchell, “Maintaining extensive, expensive and binding relationships with exposed and militarily weak states located near large rivals, we are told, will cause more problems than they are worth.” Even though it has always been the United States objective to intervene in small conflicts, especially with states that have democratic value to it the U.S will support it promising military aid. In addition, due to the United States relentless ability to engage in conflicted issue it has stopped the spreading of communism because the United States allied themselves with small states. Also, the United States established N.A.T.O, persevering the freedom and security of its members through political and militarily means. Furthermore, it’s through alliance like N.A.T.O that advocate for formal alliances in which challengers do not attempt to

Communism has played a large role in modern politics in Vietnam since they declared independence.

After a more than a decade of isolation, Laos opened up to the world in the 1990s. (“Laos Profile - Overview”). Economic reforms during the period include shifting from a centralized economy to a market-oriented economy (“A Brief History of Laos”), recognizing private ownership, and allowing foreigners to engage in commercial transfer. There was also re-emergence of private banking and legal and commercial consultants as a result of demand from foreign investors (“Countries and Their Cultures”) .

The Geneva conference concluded that, by August 1954, Vietnam was to be separated temporarily in two by the 17th parallel, the communist north controlled by Ho Chi Minh and the Non-communist south established by the French. A national election was to be held in 1956 to decide the political future of the nation, a stipulation of the Geneva accords. The Non-communist south and the United States refused to sign the accord although they did decide to abide by the agreement. From the United States perspective, if the agreement had been allowed to be carried out, the consequences resulting would be a disaster as Ho Chi Minh would inevitably win the election against president Diem and the Domino Theory would fall into action. The domino theory was the centre the founding impetus for the United States’ involvement in Vietnam; the theory dictates that if Vietnam fell to communism, the other remaining South East Asian countries would consequently follow. The communist ideology lends itself to some extent in corroborating this theory. Vladimir Lenin for example, in his writing, called for an “International revolution” of the communist ideology. Historian G.Lewy (1978) also argues in favour for the theory’s involvement in driving an impetus for US involvement in Vietnam, that there is an ‘American anti-communist crusading’ behind the development of US relations with Vietnam. Ultimately, the United States’

North Korean soldiers help give rise to Mao’s communist party in China civil while China reciprocated by providing troops during the Korean War. This strengthens the relationship between these two countries that ultimately gave birth to the Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty in 1961. This treaty promises that China would give military and or other assistance to the best of its ability if attacked by any outside aggressors. The relationship between these two countries slowly becomes stressed as China became more involved in the international community. China grew into an economic powerhouse as it builds better trade relationships with South Korea, United States, and Japan. This is a stark contrast to North Korea, as they remained stagnant economically as they refuse to build those bonds with their previous enemies. Instead they promoted the philosophy of Juche meaning self-reliance. Juche oppose outside ideas and encourages economic and cultural isolation. As these countries move in different directions ideologically and economically, their once strong bond seems to be breaking.

The Sino-Soviet confrontation of the 1960’s-1980’s had a significant impact on the Cold War dynamics of the Asia-Pacific through a number of factors. This period was a significant time of the twentieth century. The two largest communist states of the world, the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), led by Mao Zedong and the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), led by Nikita Khrushchev; ceased their strong ties through the Sino Soviet Split and then confrontation. A critical analysis of the Sino-Soviet split and confrontation will administer a greater understanding of the various alliances that formed around the Asia-Pacific region. This includes the alliance of SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organisation), as well those that formed during conflicts between the 1960’s and 1980’s. The two decades, in which the Sino-Soviet relationship was on a brink of a border war, was a time filled with many conflicts, of particular note, the Vietnam War. This conflict was especially significant and will be discussed further to highlight the effect on the Asia-Pacific.

Within all nation-states, a political regime is imposed which attempts to protect the individual interests of that country, however, it can also have the potential to limit that countries economic development and the United States and China are no exception to this rule. This essay will discuss, analyse and contrast the distinct regimes of each nation with regard to their positive and negative aspects from the viewpoint of a potential foreign investor wishing to do business in either of these states. Each

Another need to talk about is Economic; we make alliances with lots of countries because it is beneficial in trade, material, and money. An example is with China they practice a very different religion with us and there government is one of communists and they don’t always create the same rights and freedoms to make all citizens equal. Yet we have a good alliance going for the economic standing. Almost everything in American is made from china or any other small Asian communities. We are expected to be nice and civil, letting the differences go for the betterment of the states and country. In the past America fought against China and vice versus China fought against America. The past is a pain and many died in the fighting yet we can all agree that a peace treaty has been signed and we work together now. This is a hard alliance to keep just because of how different both countries are. If we were to break this alliance, trade would almost cease to exist, the two countries would be at war again, and the way we live as Americans would change immensely.

Throughout Southeast Asia, there are a number of relationships between state actors that are marked by mutual distrust, and these bilateral relationships fuel the arms race within Asia due to security concerns. These distrustful relationships between nations have “their root causes in historical animosities, racial and religious divisions or competition for influence and resources” (Richardson 1990: 24). Problematic relations in the region include, and are not limited to: North and South Korea, Taiwan and China,

On New Year’s Day 1979, The People’s Republic of China (PRC) established formal relations with the US after 30 years of friction and short-circuiting each other’s geopolitical agendas. From squaring off in Korea and Vietnam during the Cold War, China and the US now practice two-way trade valued at over half a trillion dollars. The takeaway here is that diplomacy is rarely a zero-sum game or linear in motion.

In 20017-2008, the world suffers one of the most disastrous global economic crises in history. ASEAN, reeling from the financial crisis, suffered a little over a decade ago, did not escape this global phenomenon. Bolstered by numerous agreements such as the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) in 2004, to further liberalize trade of goods and services, as well as the Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism, which provide a mutually accepted framework among member states to maintain compliance in trade agreements, these efforts did not insulate the group from the global financial crisis. In spite of the ASEAN’s effort to ward off the effects of the crisis, ASEAN’s important economic endeavors were shortfalls due to their delayed implementation largely because of the flexibility and consensus principles.

On New Year’s Day 1979, The People’s Republic of China (PRC) established formal relations with the US after 30 years of friction and short-circuiting each other’s geopolitical agendas. From squaring off in Korea and Vietnam during the Cold War, China and the US now practice two-way trade valued at over half a trillion dollars. The takeaway here is that diplomacy is rarely a zero-sum game or linear in

ASEAN steps up its game thru economic cooperation which began in 1977 with the Preferential Trading Arrangement. A series of Economic integration has transpired: (a) AFTA - ASEAN Free Trade Area (1992) (b) AFAS - ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (1995) (c) AIA - ASEAN Investment Area (1998) agreement. With the globalization and