For a non-communist South East Asia: the Republic of Vietnam–Australia relationship during the Vietnam War, 1965–1973

Previous English- and Vietnamese-language research has produced unbalanced assessments of the former Republic of Vietnam’s (RVN) place in history. Archival documents at the National Archives Centre II in Ho Chi Minh City reveal that the RVN collaborated with allies to conduct anti-communist operations and build a political anti-communist regime in South East Asia. Saigon worked closely with Canberra to create a strategic partnership with military and civic support to balance power vis-à-vis the US and to control communist influence over Australian public opinion towards the Vietnam War. Drawing on RVN archives and previous literature, this article fills a gap in the study of Saigon–Canberra relations. I argue that, through its engagement with Australia, the RVN sought firstly to hedge or balance ties with the US and, secondly, to establish itself as an independent, sovereign actor. While in the first years of this relationship, Saigon and Canberra prioritized military collaboration, Saigon later shifted its focus to bilateral civic cooperation to enlist Australia’s diplomatic support for its position on the international stage. Unfortunately, challenges from domestic fatigue and the Sino-American détente led to changes in Australia’s foreign policy, and the relationship with the RVN ended when the 1973 Paris Accord was signed.