To cage the red dragon : SEATO and the defence of Southeast Asia, 1955-1965
Author
Damien Fenton
Imprint
Singapore : NUS Press, c2012
Descript
x, 324 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm
SUMMARY
The South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was the focal point of Western military efforts to deter, and if need be defeat, mommunist aggression in Southeast Asia between 1955 and 1965. In this mission, it was on its own terms entirely successful, and none of the SEATO regional members (Pakiston, Thailand or the Philippiness) succumbed to communist rule, then or later. Much of Southeast Asia emerged from the geo-strategic vulnerabilities of the immediate post-colonial period unswayed by the efforts of local (or foreign-based) communist movements. To Cage the red dragon examines the role of SEATO during its first ten years as a military alliance in helping secure this outcome. The book also details actions by member states (notably France and Pakistan) that led the United States, SEATO's primary advocate, to sideline the alliance in 1965, a move that precipitated its subsequent rapid decline.
CONTENT
SEATO's place in the Cold War -- The conventional military threat -- SEATO's military organisation 1955-1965 -- SEATO's strategic concepts -- Planning for limited war -- Plan 5: The first counter-insurgency plan -- SEATO counter-insurgency planning for South Vietnam and Thailand 1960-1963 -- The beginning of the end 1964-1965
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization -- History
Communism -- Southeast Asia -- History -- 20th century
World politics -- 1955-1965
defence
Southeast Asia -- Defenses -- History -- 20th century
Southeast Asia -- Foreign relations -- 20th century
