CHAPTER - VI
CONCLUSION
I
India welcomed the establishment of communist regimes in the countries of
Indochina - Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos in 1975. Of course, there was no
ideological affinity but India hoped to establish close friendly relations with thrse
regimes as the region is geo-strategically important to it. Indochina region acts as
a protective pad of Southeast Asia, overlooking Pacific Ocean and a country like
Vietnam is a bulwark against the spread of Chinese influence down south, India has,
therefore, evinced keen interest in the peace, security, freedom and development ol'
these countries.
India's foreign policy and relations with Vietnam were time tested and
consistent throughout the Vietnamese struggle against the United States during
1954-1975. India always counselkd the United States to withdraw its troops from
the region and when the Americans withdrew the Vietnamese coln~nunistswon a
victory and united the country in 1976. The united Vietnam solicited India's
political and economic support as it got distanced from the People's Republic of
China. Vietnam fraternal relations with the Soviet Union and India's growing
friendship with the latter helped to draw a New Delhi-Moscow-Hanoi parameter to
checkmate the Chinese hegemony in the region. On the other hand,the Cambodian
regime called the Democratic Kampuchea, headed by a communist zealot. Pol Pot,
became a client government of China and at the instigation of China, a tussle ensued
between Cambodia and Vietnam resulting in border incursions. Ultimately, Vietnam
pressed its troops into Cambodia and knocked down Pol Pot regime and established
a new regime called the People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) in 1979.
lndia's foreign relations with the Indochina countries came in for a severe
test by the end of 1970s. It was more so because India was ruled by Janata Party
(1977-79). With an intention to follow "genuine non-alignment'' and "good
neighbourliness," Morarji Desai Government showed disinterest on the recognition
of the PRK in spite of repeated requebts from Vietnam and also from the I'IX. In
fact, with regard to Indochina States, India followed an an~hivalentpolicy because
it could not condemn Vietnam for sending its troops into Cambodia but at thc salnc
time it was interested in normalising its relations with China. China did nor
reciprocate India's goodwill gesture and it was evident when the Indian External
Affairs Minister A.B. Vajpayee visited China. The Chinese leaders chose the time
to invade Vietnam to punish it for its interference in Cambodia. India prolested and
the Minister cancelled his visit and returned to New Delhi.
There was a radical change in India's policy with the re-election of Mrs.
Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister in 1980. Mrs. Gandhi intended to give a go by to
the India's ambivalent foreign policy adopted by Janata Government.
She
recognised the PRK and expressed her solidarity with Vietnam. This was a rebuff
to China and it created tremors in the capitals of the West and the ASEAN
countries. All the countries of Indochina welcomed the Indian stand and regarded
India as a major nation capable of playing a dominant role in establishing peace in
the region. The three Indochina regimes came together as a fraternal unit and drew
support from the Soviet Union and also from India. Indian support to the PRK was
vital because it was the only country outside the socialist orbit which recognised
the PRK. Further as India was a leading Non-aligned nation, Vietnam, Cambodia
and Laos were confident of receiving support from other Non-aligned countries. In
all the international forums, India defended its recognition of the PliK and also
Vietnam's action in Cambodia. But lndia drew flak at these forums because of its
outright support to Vietnam-backed PRK. The most vociferous criticism againsl
India's Indochina policy came from the ASEAN countries.
The ASEAN countries felt that by extending support to Vietnam lndia
approved the hegemonestic tendencies of Vietnam in Southeast Asia. They expecled
that Vietnam would expand its influence beyond the borders of Cambodia.
Therefore, they solidly stood behind a rival Cambodian government, the Coalition
Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK),fonned under the leadership of'
Norodom Sihanouk. The ASEAN nations encountered lndia at the international
forums to promote the cause of anti-Vietnam and anti-PRK forces in Cambodia.
However, India was not opposed to any country of the ASEAN. Ry supporting
Vietnam it did not intend to hurt the feelings of the ASEAN countries. Instead it
found a dependable ally to serve its own national interests to shore up support
against China. Within ASEAN, certain countries like Malaysia and Indonesia
understood the viewpoint of India but at the same time they were not prepared to
accept Vietnam's action in Cambodia.
When Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister in October 1984 the foreign
policy dynamics of India came into full play and the world countries viewed with
interest at India's response to the changing political scenario. The advent of Mikhail
Gorbachev's era in the Soviet Union and the launching of his pet programmes of
Glasnost and Perestroika called for economic and political changes in the Soviet
Union and also in the socialist bloc countries. Accordingly shedding its rigid stand
on Cambodia, Vietnam expressed its willingness for negotiations. India's role during
this period in bringing various factions to the negotiating tablc was commendable.
India also impressed upon Vietnam to withdraw its troops from Cambodia citing its
own troop pull out from Bangladesh. Vietnam relented and exprcssed its
willingness to puUout from Cambodia. Rajiv Gandhi's personal visits to Indochina
countries as well as to the countries of the ASEAN and the visits of his emissaries
to various capitals in Southeast Asia not only created confidence in lndia but also
helped to bring about an understanding ovcr the Cambodian issue.
From 1986 onwards Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos mainly depended on lndia
to express their viewpoints at any international forums. India's cl'forts in bringing
Sihanouk and Hun Sen proved to be crucial for the success of the Jakarta Informal
Meetings and also for the Paris International Conference on Cambodia. lndia at
times got humiliated by not getting due recognition at the behest of China, yet it
chose to play a positive role for the promotion of understanding among various
parties concerned with the Cambodian issue.
While Vietnam and Cambodia duly recopised the important role played by
India during the difficult phase of their countries, Laos always backed the efforts of
India and pleaded for a greater Indian role in the region for the proniotion of peace.
Laos integrated itself well with other fraternal countries of lndochina and solidly
stood b e h i ~ dVietnam in its hour of need. lndia always looked at Laos as a placid
area that needed development. It felt that Laos could be developed only when peace
prevailed in the region and therefore the region as such had to be free from outsidc
interference. The strategic location of Laos bordering China has special appcal fbr
India.
Economically, India's role in the countries of lndochina was not very
significant but the potentialities of the two regions for cooperation were well
recognised. In fact, India lost an excellent opportunity in increasing economic
relations during the period from 1980 to 1991 as all the countries in thc lndochina
region looked at lndia for investment, trade and scientific advice. 'Ilic opportunity
was at the door steps of India because the lndochina countries got isolated froni the
West and Japan because of the Cambodian tangle. The Indian leadership
unconvincingly argued that the Indian economic position was also no1 good.
However, India entered into a multi-faceted economic cooperation with all thc
countries of Indochina. The establishment of Joint Commission for Cultural,
Economic, Scientific and Technical cooperation in December 1982 was a landmark
in the econolnic relations between lndia and Vietnam. Under this agreemcnt
bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology, defence, industry,
agriculture and foreign investment was promoted. High level visits from both sides
M e r enhanced this cooperation. Indian investors established sugar. cement and
jute factories in Vietnam.
High level defence cooperation in view of the strategic partnership between
lndia and Vietnam was initiated. Defence equipment in a large quantity was
purchased by Vietnam from India. Defence personal received special training. India
also signed agreements with regard to oil exploration and geological survey. The
ONGC of India and Petro-Vietnam cooperated in the field of oil drilling in Vietnam.
There was also cooperation in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry. India
helped Vietnam establish a Rice Research Institute and also a Buffalo Breeding
Centre. The cooperation between the two countries in laying the railway lines,
modemising the railway system received a boost gradually. Many Indian railway
technicians visited Vietnam to help Vietnamese railway improve its condition. At
the same time some railway personnel received training in India. In thc field of
atomic energy, both the countries cooperated to develop nuclear devices to be used
for peaceful purposes. The economic relations between India and Vietnam received
a boost when both the countries embarked on economic reforms. Vietnam's Doi
Moi (renovation) programme created facilities for further cooperation between
Indian entrepreneurs and the Vietnamese investors. The liberalised investment laws
promulgated in Vietnam helped the Indian investors promote joint ventures.
The economic relations between lndia and Cambodia got clouded under the
political tangle during 1980 and 1991. Cambodia heavily depended on Soviet and
Vietnam help for its reconstrucli~nprogramme under the
PRK regime and it
intended to establish sound economic relations with India. During many official
visits Hun Sen appealed for Indian assistance for the reconstruction of the country.
Cambodiarequested for the establishment of textile plant, automobiles. locomotives
and agricultural implements. India extended its help in agriculture and industry and
also identified areas where it was capable of helping Cambodia in the fields of
agriculture, industry, communication, transport and public health. Under the Indian
technical and economic cooperation programme, the Archeological Survey of India
worked for the renovation of the Angkor Wat temple. This was appreciated by the
Cambodians as well as by the people of other countries. India also identified the
areas of cooperation such as rubber plantations, gem mining and timber. It assisted
the Mekong project as the project on completion would improve the living
conditions of Cambodians.
Being an agricultural country Laos wanted to increase its agricultural output
with the help of Indian expertise. During the years from 1980 to 1991, Bharat I leavy
Electrical Ltd. and also a Birla Company CIMMCO evinced interest in the
investments and promotion of business in Laos. Unlike Cambodia, Laos showed
great potentiality to investors because it was a stable state with a liberalised
economy under the New Economic Mechanism. With very rich natural resources
and low labour costs it provided incentive to the Indian businessmen who started
business in Laos slowly. However, the poor infrastmctural facilities in the country
were an impediment for rapid increase of economic relations.
Cultural relations between India and Indochina grew enormously during 1980
and1991. All the countries of lndochina traced their traditional connections with
India to time immemorial . Even Vietnam culturally akin to China put fonvard the
its cultural background of its southern region having links with lndian culture.
Influenced by Indian culture and tradition Cambodia and Laos expressed pleasurc
In identifying their fraternal relationship with India. I:urther, all the three countries
of Indochina improved their cultural relations with India by exchanging artists and
by performing cultural festivals. India also evinced great interest and organiscd
India festivals, Indian art exhibitions and Indian film festivals. The countries ol'
Indochina showed great interest in exchanging scholars and instituting scholarships
under cultural exchange programmes.
All these attempts in various fields
contributed to the strengthening of the bonds of amity, friendship, understanding
between India and the countries of Indochina essential, to some extent. for global
peace.