New Zealand military involvement - New Zealand Forces in Asia 1948-72

Five significant steps in New Zealand's military involvement in East Asia

1. The rise of Japan during the Second World War and the capture of Singapore

British troops surrendered to the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942. The loss of Singapore was the largest surrender in British military history and its greatest defeat since it lost its colonies in the American War of Independence. This defeat seriously undermined New Zealand's confidence in Britain to protect the far flung parts of its Empire.

• a vulnerable New Zealand began to look elsewhere for its security;
• it built on established ties with Australia through the Canberra Pact in 1944;
• this Pact was not a military alliance; its focus was on working together on issues of mutual interest.

2. New Zealand joins the United Nations, June 1945

New Zealand was one of 51 nations to sign the United Nations Charter in June 1945, pledging its support for the principle of collective security. This was seen as an important way of ensuring that small nations could have a voice in world affairs. Support for the United Nations and collective security was behind New Zealand's decision to send frigates and Kayforce to Korea in 1950.

3. Closer ties with the United States: ANZUS (1951)

Despite the collective security offered by the UN New Zealand really wanted a powerful ally capable of filling Britain's shoes. The United States became the dominant Pacific power in the 1940s. The Americans wanted a strong Japan as a powerful barrier to the spread of communism in Asia. New Zealand and Australia were concerned about the prospects of a resurgent Japan that could threaten the region again.

In order to reassure New Zealand and Australia about their protection, and to enlist their support against the spread of communism in the Asia and Pacific region, the ANZUS treaty was signed in 1951. This was a regional defensive agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Each party agreed to:

• maintain and develop their resources so as to strengthen their ability to resist attack;
• consult together if the security of any member state was threatened in the Pacific; and
• take any action required in accordance with its own system of government.

New Zealand's desire to be seen to uphold its commitment to its relationship with the United States was largely responsible for its decision to commit combat troops to Vietnam in 1965.

4. The South-East Asia Collective Defence Treaty (1954)

In 1949 China had 'fallen' to communism and there were concerns that other Asian states would follow, such as like Korea, French Indochina, and Malaya. The French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 seemed to confirm such fears. The Americans spoke of the 'thin edge of the wedge' and called upon willing partners in the region to stand up to the communists.

The South-East Asia Collective Defence Treaty or Manila Pact was signed in Manila in September 1954.

Its signatories were: Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Philippines, Thailand and the United States.

Significant non-members were India, Indonesia and Malaya while South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia were offered the protection of this Treaty without being formally included.

The South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) grew out of the Manila Pact and was the institutional expression of this Treaty.

SEATO has been commonly cited as the key reason for New Zealand's participation in the Vietnam War and while it is true that the American, Australian and New Zealand governments used it to justify their involvement, SEATO did not act collectively in this war which some of its members opposed.

5. Maintaining ties with Britain

New Zealand had strong emotional links with Britain. The British government was concerned at being left out of the ANZUS alliance, and some New Zealanders shared this concern. There was relief- in Britain and New Zealand - that the 1954 Manila Pact included both countries.

New Zealand also took seriously its membership of the British Commonwealth, an association of former British dominions and colonies. New Zealand contributed to a Commonwealth Strategic Reserve in Malaya during the 1950s campaign against Malayan communists.

• ANZAM was a (service level planning) arrangement which began in 1949. Its name was derived from the countries it involved - Australia, New Zealand and Malaya - and was concerned with planning for the protection of wartime sea communications in this area.
• The crisis in Malaya in the 1950s extended the scope of ANZAM to plan for the defence of Malaya, something previously the responsibility of Great Britain.