We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from SINGAPORE
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 May 2019
Although it is false to assume that a new decade ushers in a new era, in the study of international politics it is in many ways convenient to think in terms of decades, because it allows for a point in time to assess the past, to analyse the present and to point to the future. With this proviso made, it can nevertheless be asserted that the first three years of the 1970's have marked a watershed in the international affairs of Asia and particularly Southeast Asia. The events which have changed the pattern of international relations in Southeast Asia and will clearly distinguish the present decade from the past include:
First, the rapprochement between China and the West and the rest of Asia, heralded by President Nixon's visit to Peking in February 1972 and the seating of China in the United Nations in 1971.
Second, the reshaping of American policy in the region along the lines of the Nixon Doctrine of self-help and put into effect through the winding down of the Vietnam War, the signing of the Vietnam Ceasefire Agreement in January 1973, and the phased withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
Third, the withdrawal of British military bases from Malaysia and Singapore initiated in 1968 and completed in 1971 and succeeded by the more fluid and ambiguous Five Power Defence Arrangements between Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (ANZUK) and Malaysia and Singapore.
Fourth, the increasing Sino-Soviet rivalry, and the growing Soviet involvement in South and Southeast Asia marked by the Soviet-Indian Treaty of 1971 and the expanding Russian naval presence in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Fifth, the growing Japanese domination of the economies and markets of Southeast Asia, and the shaping of a new political role for Japan in Asian affairs commensurate with her economic power.
Finally, the shifting of the foreign policies of Australia and New Zealand to a more Asian orientation and to a greater involvement in Asian affairs following the Labour Party victories in both countries.
Despite a reduction in tension, however, Southeast Asia still remains in a state of flux and transition.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
