Philippines–South Vietnam relations

Philippines	South Vietnam

ThePhilippines–South Vietnam relations refers to the bilateral relations of theRepublic of the Philippines and the now defunct-Republic of Vietnam. The Philippines was an ally to South Vietnam during theVietnam War providing humanitarian aid.

The people of the Philippines and Vietnam had a history of maritime trading prior to the colonization of both countries by Western powers. Following the independence of both countries, the Philippines underPresidentRamon Magsaysay established official contact with South Vietnam in 1954. In the later half of the 1950s, South Vietnamese PresidentNgo Dinh Diem lobbied for diplomatic recognition of Asian states including the Philippines while Magsaysay was focusing on building relations with the "Free World" which consists of democratic states in Asia and the United States. SenatorClaro M. Recto advised against the Philippines officially recognizing South Vietnam believing that it would bring embarrassment to the country since he concludes that the South would inevitably lose to theCommunist North as well as is concerned that the Philippines is being used advance United States interest. Magsaysay then extended the Philippines' official recognition of South Vietnam on July 14, 1955. In 1959, Philippine PresidentCarlos P. Garcia signed a Treaty of Friendship with South Vietnam.^[1]

Some Filipino medics went to South Vietnam for humanitarian aid in theVietnam War, with the approval of Magsaysay in 1954. Their efforts were known as Operation Brotherhood, which received international support in order to help the operation's goals to aid the Vietnamese refugees.^[1][2][3]

In July 1964, South Vietnam asked the Philippines for assistance against its belligerents in the North when Major GeneralNguyễn Khánh sent a note to PresidentDiosdado Macapagal asking for aid in the Vietnam War.^[1] In August 1964, the first Philippine contingent (PHILCON I) was sent to South Vietnam in 1965 after Macapagal secured the consent of the Congress. The contingent initially consisted of 16 individuals who were doctors, nurses, technicians, and civic action officers from theArmed Forces of the Philippines. Aside from humanitarian aid, the contingent was also involved in psychological warfare according to the official records of the United States'Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.^[4]

On April 14, 1965,Prime MinisterPhan Huy Quát sent a letter to the Philippine President stating South Vietnam's dire need for military assistance. In the same letter, Prime Minister Quát hopes to see about 2,000 Filipino soldiers sent to South Vietnam. President Macapagal asked the Congress for the fulfillment of South Vietnam's request^[1] but was not able to send a second contingent, the Philippine Civic Action Group (PHILCAG) due to dispute which involves him insisting the United States to fund the contingent. As of June 1966, they were 73 Filipinos involved in the war effort.^[4]

Macapagal was succeeded by theFerdinand Marcos, who was not initially in favor of sending a second contingent, following the1965 Philippine presidential elections. The United States was partially successful in convincing Marcos to retract his stance after five diplomatic missions. While he was remained firm in not sending combat troops in South Vietnam, he opened to the possibility of sending more troops to provide humanitarian aid.^[4] The plan to send a second contingent to South Vietnam was approved by theCongress on July 14, 1966 under Republic Act No. 4664.^[1][5] Under Marcos he did not allow the United States to fully fund the formation of the contingent since he believed the Filipinos would be treated as mercenaries by the Americans if they did so. The South Vietnam government accepted the Philippines offer of a second contingent on August 15, 1966 while PHILCAG commander, General Gaudencio V. Tobias receiving order from Marcos to secretly establish contact with theViet Cong so that the Philippines could act as an intermediary for a peace negotiation since there is a belief in the country that North Vietnam would not be hostile to idea due to PHILCAG's non-combat role in the war.^[4]

The Philippines hosted theManila Summit Conference in October 1966, where six countries promised aid to South Vietnam against the communist North. There was some opposition regarding the deployment of the Philippine Civic Action Group to South Vietnam by academics, students, and laborers who held protests during the summit. The Vietnam Aid Bill in the Philippine Congress was also opposed by a significant minority.^[1]

The Philippine Civic Action Group while primarily involved in rebuilding roads and providing humanitarian aid were occasionally involved in defensive operations. It was involved inOperation Attleboro where 4 of its personnel were wounded. By the end of the 1966, the Philippines had 2,063 personnel in South Vietnam.^[4]

The South Vietnam government intercepted the secret plan of Marcos to establish ties with the Viet Cong and Tobias reasoned that the Philippines was negotiating for an arrangement that would lead to the Viet Cong forces "leaving the PHILCAG contingent alone". In 1968, Marcos expressed openness to the establishing of ties with the Eastern bloc countries and started the process reversing the country's anti-communist policy.^[4]

In 1969, the Philippines began withdrawing its contingent and by the 1973, the recall was completed. From 1964 to 1973, nine Filipino personnel werekilled in action as well as four others due to other causes.^[4] The Philippine embassy in Saigon ceased operations on April 29, 1975.^[1] Official ties were established with the now unified and communist Vietnam in 1976.^[4]

In 1975 the Philippines accepted 30,000 Vietnamese refugees boarding naval ships of theSouth Vietnamese Navy which were escorted by theUSSKirk. The Marcos government initially was not amenable to accepting the refugees to avoid creating tension with the now unified Communist government in Vietnam. The United States switched the Vietnamese flags on the ships with United States flags to convince the Philippine government to receive the ships. The South Vietnamese ships were eventually turned over to thePhilippine Navy.^[6]

Ships turned over to the Philippine Navy

The following South Vietnamese ships which escaped to the Philippines in April 1975 which were recommissioned as Philippine Navy ships.

Filipino businessmen set up ventures to aid South Vietnam'swar economy. Filipino migrant workers were also employed in South Vietnam, with thousands employed in American construction firms with presence in the Indochina region including South Vietnam. Some worked in night clubs and bars which were frequented by American soldiers stationed in South Vietnam.^[1]

In October 1955, the Philippines opened a temporary office inSaigon. On December 1, the permanent chancery was opened at 1 Rue Aux Fluera, across the present dayBitexco Financial Tower, with Amb. Mariano Espeleta heading the mission.^[1] South Vietnam as well established an embassy inManila with the Chief Minister Cao Thai Bao heading the mission.^[1][29] South Vietnamese PresidentNgo Dinh Diem made a visit in the Philippines in the late 1950s while Philippine PresidentCarlos P. Garcia made a state visit to South Vietnam from April 22 to 26, 1959.^[1]

By early 1975, the Philippine Embassy staff were reduced to critical staff. The Philippine Embassy to South Vietnam was permanently closed on April 29, 1975 a day beforeSaigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces. Amb. Agustin Mangila and his two remaining staff were evacuated among the many duringOperation Frequent Wind.^[1]

South Vietnam was also a claimant of theSpratly Islands which the Philippines also claims. Both countries had control in some of the islands during South Vietnam's existence. Despite being allies in theVietnam War, South Vietnam seized control of theSouthwest Cay in 1975 which was formerly controlled by the Filipinos. Filipino soldiers guarding Southwest Cay went toNortheast Cay for the birthday celebration of their commanding officer but a storm forced to delay they return to Southwest Cay. The South Vietnamese took the opportunity to establish control and hoisted the South Vietnamese flag in lieu of the Philippine flag raised in the island. It was reported that South Vietnam sent prostitutes to the Filipino soldiers' commanding officers' party to lure them out of Southwest Cay. The island fall under the control of Communist Vietnamese forces when South Vietnam was disestablished following theFall of Saigon.^[30]

• Media related toRelations of the Philippines and South Vietnam at Wikimedia Commons

• Philippines–South Vietnam relations
• Philippines–Vietnam relations
• Bilateral relations of the Philippines

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