The Study Of The Game Between The United States And The Soviet Union In Southeast Asia During The Cold War

After the Second World War,Conflicts between the U.S.and the former Soviet Union in global level gradually formed Cold War international pattern.The U.S.-Soviet game in Southeast Asia is an important part of their global game during the Cold War.It serves the needs of the US-Soviet global game and was closely related to their global game.At the same time,it’s different from the U.S.-Soviet game in the Europe.Cold War with hot war has become a typical form of the U.S.-Soviet game in Southeast Asia during the Cold War.Focus on Indochina while cover the whole Southeast Asia is a typical feature.Southeast Asia became an arena of the two Super Powers’ fighting for security interests.Since then,Southeast Asia has been presenting its increasingly strategic importance.Via comprehensive review of the history of competition in the Southeast Asia between the U.S.and the former Soviet Union,one can see that Southeast Asia was not a pivot area for the two super powers regardless of strategy or interests fields at the beginning.Changes began after the founding of the People’s Republic of China,the outbreak of the Korean War and Indochina War,which transformed this area to hotpot.Since then,the United States and the former Soviet Union both turned their eyes to Southeast Asia.As can be observed,the two super powers had experienced passive and indirect involvement initially,then became actively engaged in the area,in order to maintain balance of power and achieve security interests in Southeast Asia,as well as serve their global goals during the Cold War.The aggravating interference of the two Super Powers in Southeast Asia shows their response and reflection to the changes of each other in the region.Exploring the history of conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union in different phases,and their techniques and purposes will help to understand the nature of the conflict of super powers in a specific area like Southeast Asia.Through the changes of security pattern in Southeast Asia,big powers influences were prevalent,while Southeast Asian countries played a more and more important role with the development of the Cold War.During the late period of Cold War,the regional and global patterns changed dramatically,Southeast Asian countries were no exception,in which the regionalism on security gained popularity and integrity of Association of Southeast Asia was advanced.Thus,Southeast Asian countries began to take over some sovereignty in regional security and other affairs and initiated diplomacy characterized by ―balance of power‖.Outside powers’ influences were gradually fragmented and separated to different interest groups,which still exist and play roles in the Southeast Asian security landscape today.Soviet Union’s competition with the U.S.for the dominace in the Southeast Asia,together with its tragedy ending provides valuable lessons for the rising China.During the Cold War,the U.S.and Soviet plunged into long expendable conflicts in Southeast Asia,a then actual marginal region.The Soviet Union had serious ―strategic overdraft‖in its completion with the U.S.,while didn’t keep balance between ideological and international influence,comprehensive national and military strength,domestic development and foreign aid.At present,China is facing series problems during the transformation of diplomacy.It must be careful to avoid the Thucydides trap during the rising.Considering China’s rising as a regional and global power,as well as the aims of the U.S.to balancing China’s influence and safeguarding own interests in the region,the U.S.and China will be the two major outside countries in the shaping of the future political and security landscape of this region in the long run,no matter from the standpoint of U.S.’s aim to contain China or their objectives to maintain own interests in the area.Russia will be an important player too.The United States and China will definitely increase its interference in security affair of Southeast Asia.Thus,the relationship between US-China and the attitude of Southeast Asian countries will all have huge impact on the future power pattern in Southeast Asia.