INTRODUCTION. Major countries involved

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1 RESEARCH REPORT COMMITTEE : HISTORICAL COUNCIL ISSUE: IMPROVING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN VIETNAM AND RESTORING PEACEFUL INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN EASTERN ASIA CHAIRS : ZOE GAILLOT AND LOUNA HASSAINI

2 INTRODUCTION In 1975, Vietnam was left completely destroyed by a terrible proxy war. Seeking funds from international institutions and China, its powerful neighbour, it slowly started its reconstruction. The communist regime in place tried to boost the slow economy with a socialist transformation. This was both an economic and a social failure. In the meantime, the Vietnamese government got closer to the USSR, which caused tensions to arise with China, who cut most of its economic aid towards Vietnam. Major countries involved Vietnam Cambodia China USA USSR France Western countries Soviet bloc countries The conference begins on December, the 24 th DAY 1 (12/24) economy: solve the bad economic situation in Vietnam due to the reduction in Chinese aid, social: finding solutions for the boat refugee crisis, and the food rationing and starvation of the Vietnamese population, cope with unemployment towards a social rehabilitation DAY 2 (12/25) the chairs will provide additional information on that date to the delegates that might help the debate.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1975-78: The end of the war and the socialist

3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION : The end of the war and the socialist transformation The war had a terrible effect on the whole country and its population. (1) The napalm used by the American army burnt every inch of cultivable land. (2) The massive use of shells destroyed the few dynamic cities completely (see above).

(3) A lot of people had been killed, many were gravely injured by intense burns and could not work anymore. (4) A lot of children had become orphans and lived in complete misery.

Two programmes were put in place: first, the New Economic Zones (NEZ) programme.

4 (3) A lot of people had been killed, many were gravely injured by intense burns and could not work anymore. (4) A lot of children had become orphans and lived in complete misery. Moreover, unemployment was high because of the total destruction of the cities. To cope with this problem and start a new economy, the government followed the model of the USSR and collectivisation. Two programmes were put in place: first, the New Economic Zones (NEZ) programme. The nationalisation of industry, including French-owned coal mines and other foreign corporations in Vietnam was accompanied by a land reform: the abolition of private ownership, the end of exploitation by landowners and the reorganisation of agricultural production along collective principles. This programme also helped to contain the spontaneous migration to the cities of many people who tried to avoid the terrible warfare in the countryside by forcing the population into the NEZs. The other program, named X1, was a first step towards state control over the economy, which consisted in the eradication of private commerce and trade, what the party called capitalist merchants and compradors, and their replacement by state institutions. Yet, neither of the two were working: food production was not sufficient to feed the whole population, at least three million civilians were unemployed, while several millions took to the roads in search of food.

The totalitarian regime also tried to eliminate all kind of remaining opposition, and operated

they suffered from poor nutrition and exhausting forced labour.

ARVN soldiers during the war, now had no customer base.

5 The totalitarian regime also tried to eliminate all kind of remaining opposition, and operated purges of the ARVN, by sending the former soldiers and civil servants to reeducation camps, where they suffered from poor nutrition and exhausting forced labour. In the post-war, South Vietnam s half a million prostitutes, who made a living servicing US and ARVN soldiers during the war, now had no customer base. These bad social and economic policies made Vietnam increasingly dependent on assistance, provided mainly by the Chinese. Domestic policy 1978: Tensions with China arise In 1978, Vietnam fell 4.5 million tons short of its rice quota, while cereal production also fell well short of expectations, and by 1979 civilians in Vietnamese cities were subject to food rationing.

Therefore, large amounts of Chinese people found themselves out of job. They were either sent to the NEZs or forced to leave the country.

6 In 1978, the X2 program was put in place to stop all capitalist economic activities. All private trade in Vietnam was banned. These reforms especially targeted the ethnic Chinese due to their predominant role in the economic and commercial life (banking, finance, wholesale trade, import-export). Therefore, large amounts of Chinese people found themselves out of job. They were either sent to the NEZs or forced to leave the country. This led to a massive Chinese exodus, called the boat people crisis. Foreign policy After the war, Vietnam, seeing its economy crumble, attempted to normalize its relations with the US. These negotiations having failed, the government got closer to the USSR, and their relations were very good. In November 1978, Vietnam signed a Treaty of friendship and collaboration with the USSR and entered their economic group. Meanwhile, due to the sinosoviet split, China was uneasy with Vietnam s foreign policy. The hostile X2 program and the problem of massive refugees arrivals in Hong Kong led to even more tensions between the two countries. Facing this rift in Sino-Vietnamese relations, China chose to make serious cuts in the economic and commercial assistance it provided to Vietnam, which had very negative consequences. In 1978, problems also arose with another neighbouring country: Cambodia. Since 1975, Pol Pot s authoritarian regime was perpetrating a massacre among the Cambodian people; nonetheless, their relations with China were quite good. Yet, there was a profound ideological and nationalistic unofficial conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam. This had been going on from the late 1970s, both countries desiring to expand on the other s territory, and the bad relations started to worsen consequently at the end of 1978.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS Vietnam War (1955-1975) 1955 : Ngo Dinh Diem, with the help of the United States, consolidates his power in Saigon and rejects the Geneva Accords which arranged a settlement ending

7 TIMELINE OF EVENTS Vietnam War ( ) 1955 : Ngo Dinh Diem, with the help of the United States, consolidates his power in Saigon and rejects the Geneva Accords which arranged a settlement ending First Indochina War. December 1955 : Ho Chi Minh, follows the communist doctrine and orders sweeping "land reforms" in North Vietnam. Thousands of people classified as landowners and wealthy farmers are imprisoned, tortured, or executed. Many families flee and head to the South in a mass exodus : Ngo Dinh Diem begins a campaign to repress those who fought for or sympathized with the Viet Minh : Ex-Viet Minh forces in the South organize and, begin a campaign of guerrilla warfare against Diem's administration, with the support of Ho Chi Minh. July 1959 : Two military advisors are killed by Viet Minh guerrilla soldiers in a raid in South Vietnam. These are the first American deaths reported in Vietnam.The US announces in 1960 the increase of the number of military advisors in South Vietnam from 327 men to 685 men.

8 November 11, 1960 : President Ngo Dinh Diem defeats an attempted coup by his own government forces, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). December 20, 1960 : The National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, is formed to crush Diem's regime. The insurgent organization and its military wing, the Viet Cong (VC), will be funded by the North Vietnamese government, and staffed by Ex- Viet Minh guerrilla soldiers from the South. May 1963 : South Vietnamese police fire shots into a crowd of Buddhist monks demonstrating against President Diem's regime. The event will inspire others to protest. In June Thich Quang Duc, a 66-year-old Buddhist monk, sets himself afire in protest of the South government, its religious intolerance, and discriminatory policies. Other Buddhists will follow his example and self-immolate to demonstrate against the regime. Quang Duc's suicide, captured in an iconic Life magazine photograph, shocks and confuses many Americans. For some, the event will underscore the problems with American support for the South Vietnamese government November 1963 : With US encouragement, South Vietnamese General Duong Van Minh overthrows the Diem regime, and the following day he orders the execution of Diem and his brother. August 1964 : Responding to raids on northern ports, North Vietnamese gunboats attack the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin. The Maddox suffers little damage and no casualties are reported. Two days later, the USS Maddox reports a second assault by North Vietnamese gunboats. The US bombs North Vietnam for the first time under the orders of President Lyndon B. Johnson August 7, 1964 : The US Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gives full power to President Johnson to defend South Vietnam against Viet Cong forces. June 1965 : Direct fighting between American ground forces and the VC for the first time. December 25, 1965 : In an attempt to spur negotiations with North Vietnam, President Johnson orders a halt in the bombing. The pause will last just over a month January 31, 1968 : Beginning on the Vietnamese Tet holiday, VC forces shock US troops with a wave of attacks supported by North Vietnamese troops. Heavy fighting will continue for months. The Tet Offensive will be a disaster for each camp.

9 March 1968 : President Johnson meets with his military advisors who urge him to find a way to end the war in Vietnam. A few days later he announces that he is «taking the first step to de-escalate the conflict». In April, Ho Chi Minh's government declares it is prepared to talk about peace. January 25, 1969 : Peace talks are held in Paris. Representatives from the US, the South Vietnamese government, and the NLF are present. September 3, 1969 : At the age of 79, Ho Chi Minh dies. January 27, 1973 : Representatives from South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and the United States sign a peace agreement in which a ceasefire is declared, the US. agrees to withdraw combat troops, and the government of South Vietnam promises to hold free elections to allow its people to decide their future. March 29, 1973 : The Vietnam War is officially over for the United States. The last US combat soldier leaves Vietnam, but military advisors and some Marines remain. Over 3 million Americans have served in the war, nearly 60,000 are dead, some 150,000 are wounded, and at least 1,000 are missing in action. April 30, 1975 : The North Vietnamese take Saigon; the war in Vietnam ends. - Outcome of the Vietnam War ( ) : belligerent South Vietnam North Vietnam United States Dead 200, ,000 (civilians) 170, , 000 ( military ) 50,000 ( civilians ) 400, (military) 58,200 Wounded Over Over 500,00 300,000

10 KEY TERMS Proxy war a conflict between two states where neither entity directly engages the other. ex: during the cold war, North Vietnam, supported by the USSR, confronted South Vietnam, supported by the USA. The Vietnam War was therefore an indirect conflict between the two superpowers. National Liberation Front: VC or The Vietcong. Communist movement in S. Vietnam; guerrilla fighters loyal to Ho Chi Minh. NVA: North Vietnamese Army (loyal to Ho Chi Minh). PAVN (Communist People s Army of Vietnam) : another term for VC, NFL or NVA ARVN: Army of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) allied with the US Escalation:An increase in the use of armaments; increase in the scope of a conflict. Credibility Gap: The gap between reality and what politicians and governments say about reality. Or, the gap between what the US was saying about Vietnam and what was actually happening there. Vietnamization : American president Richard Nixon's policy : giving the South Vietnamese government responsibility for carrying on the war while withdrawing American troops Domino theory : American president Dwight D. Eisenhower's theory that if one country is taken over by an expansionist, especially Communist in a background of Cold War, the nearby nations will be taken over one after another. Sino-soviet split : the progressive rise of tensions between the two major communist powers, USSR and China. Throughout the years, China would adopt a more friendly position towards the US, even though staying communist. NEZs (New Economic zones): collectivised areas in Vietnam for agricultural and industrial activities CPV (Communist Party of Vietnam): the new governing party put in place at the end of the war SRV (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) PDK (Party of Democratic Kampuchea): Authoritarian communist regime put in place in Cambodia by dictator Pol Plot, also known as the Khmer Rouge

11 MOVIES For a bit of entertainment these are the best movies on Vietnam, and all are very famous and interesting to watch. However, most of them are quite violent, and all are American productions, so bear that in mind! - The war Full Metal Jacket (1987) Apocalypse now (1979) - The last negotiations Last days in Vietnam (2014) - The aftermath The deer hunter (1978) - The Cambodian genocide The killing fields (1984) - Parallel market in Vietnam American Gangster (2007) On the war BIBLIOGRAPHY L'Histoire «Vietnam : Le choc du Tet ( Pierre Journoud, chercheur au CEHD) On the general situation - Amer, R., Post-conflict developments in the Vietnamese context - Reform, conflict, resolution, and regional integration. In Post-conflict development in East Asia, Howe, BM., ed. Ashgate -

12 On relations with China Womack, B., China and Vietnam_The politics of asymmetry, 2006, ed Cambridge University Press On relations with the US Lhistoire «Les Etats-Unis ont-ils porté les Khmers rouges au pouvoir?» ( Antoine Coppolani)

VIETNAM WAR

VIETNAM WAR 1955-1975 #30 http://www.military.com/video/offduty/movies/classic-forrest-gump-invietnam-war/1069387728001 PRESIDENTS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR Dwight D. Eisenhower. John F. Kennedy. Lyndon B.