Vietnam War?

Question

I understand that duing Vietnam War, Malaysia and Singaporearmed force actually stationed troops to Thailand near the boarder as forward observer, and to response as initial contact. Because Thailand has once allowed the Japanese to pass by them to attack Malaysia and Singapore.

But I could not find any concrete information on this topics, as it was highly sensitives, and secretive. i always wonder if it is true.

However, I happened to meet 3 Vetrens (in different time and place). They were nice people, but could not be adjusted to normal civilian lives easily anymore.

I sometime thing this may be true, but the information will never reach the membe of public.

Anyone who have any information, please share.

Answer 1

Thailand supplied troops in support of America during the Vietnam War and allowed large numbers of troops and at least one major air base to be built and used by the American to launch bombers against Vietnam. Thailand has no border with Vietnam so forward observers could not be stationed there for that purpose but many nations staged their troops through Thailand and its air bases.
"In the Second World War the initial Thai resistance to the Japanese was quickly crushed and the Thai puppet government that was established by the Japanese became an ally of Japan.
In 1939, the highly nationalistic regime of Prime Minister Luang Plaek Phibunsongkhram changed the name of the country to Muang Thai (Land of the Free), or Thailand. Negotiation and compromise by Phibun (as he was known) and his colleagues in government enabled the Thai to avoid the whole weight of a Japanese occupation force during World War II. Although officially the Thai government had declared war on the Allies, its declaration was never delivered or accepted in the United States, which became a gathering point for Thai resistance efforts. Following the war, the Thai military continued its ascendancy in national life, and a growing communist insurgency in the 1950s prompted a buildup of Thai military strength. The United States government provided aid in the form of weapons and training for the Royal Thai Armed Forces. As United States involvement in Southeast Asia steadily increased during the Second Indochina War (1954-75), Thailand gave permission for the stationing of U.S. forces at a number of Thai naval and air bases, which were expanded and modernized. Following the end of the war and the détente between Beijing and Washington, Thailand established its own détente with China, which agreed not to support the Communist Party of Thailand. "
Like all aspects of SE Asian history, hard records are difficult to find, mainly because the language is a hugh barrier and history gets re-written by whoever is in power. I certainly know Thai's who fought in Vietnam in support of America. Some of them also have difficulty adjusting.

Answer 2

I believe the information you heard has something to do with situations happening in Southeast Asia AFTER the war ended.

Contrary to popular belief, there was a communist domino effect of sorts that happened after the fall of South Vietnam. With the support of the Soviet Union, Vietnam became an aggressor nation after the second Indochinese War (better known as the Vietnam War to us) ended. Vietnam invaded and occupied Cambodia in late 1978, while already having strong control over Laos by that time. All that in mind, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia all had good reason to be concerned. Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia cause the Khmer Rouge to retreat towards the Thai boarder, which caused even more concern for countries in that region.

Thailand would certainly have troops stationed at their boarders to deter a possible invasion by Vietnamese forces. Singapore and Malaysia would have less concern, because Vietnam didn’t (and still doesn’t) have a navy equipped well enough to conduct a sea invasion of either country. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are allies to each other as well as to the U.S., which could give reason to deploy troops in support of Thailand’s forces. Whether troops from Singapore or Malaysia were actually sent is a mystery to me as well.

Hope this helps…

Answer 3

I know that the Viet Cong were caught trying to blow up a huge ammunition dump at the US airbase close to Udon Thani in Northeastern Thailand. The US had 3 airbases in Thailand each capable of bombing North Vietnam. Thai soldiers definitely fought in Vietnam in support of their US allies. Not sure about Malay or Singapore forces in Thailand, but the comments above related to ASEAN make sense. What doesn't make sense is the implication that any forces would be in Thailand without Thai government consent or because these countries didn't trust Thailand. Thailand has been and is a strong opponent of communism in SE Asia and you can't blame them for what happened in WWII. The Japanese were a juggernaut that could not be stopped. The US or Britain were in no position at the time to save Thailand, so they had to do the best they could for their people at the time and direct conflict with the Japanese military. By the way, I believe that Singapore (British Colony at the time) fell to the Japanese within days after the dastardly Pearl Harbor attack which would be BEFORE Japanese occupation of Thailand.

Answer 4

It's no secret that Thailand tossed out the communists in 1966. The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand stayed free of Communism because of the U.S. commitment to Vietnam--they all had troops stationed everywhere in the region to thwart the communists who were actively seeking to take the whole of SE Asia over. It's a fact that the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) were allies with each other so it's probably quite probable that they did station troops or at the very least provide each other with intelligence, supplies and weaponry.

Answer 5

As far as I know, Singapore do not have any forces in Thailand for any reason during the Vietnam war. However, patrols were mounted in the South China Sea to control the influx of Vietnamese refugees. The scenario is definitely different from the World War 2.

Answer 6

the Vietnam war spread from south of china border to almost the northern Thailand border.under the Asean treaty, if one country is threaten the rest will be involved. During that time few Communist soldiers did cross over to the Thai border

Answer 7

there were no singapaporean troops in vietnam.i am an australian vietnam vietnam.our first stop on the flight over was singapore.we had to change into civillian clothes to get off the aircraft,then back in uniform once back on board.the singaporean army does patrol the south china seashores or did to keep vietnamese refugees away.i guess they were a neutral country

Answer 8

The countries that involved during Viet Nam War:

North allies: China, USSR, Cuba.

South allies: USA, Korea, Philipine, Australia, India.