CONTROVERSY OVER THE INDOCHINA FEDERATION QUESTION

This article provides a historical analysis of the controversial "Indochina Federation" question, a concept that has been a major source of tension in Southeast Asian politics. It traces the origins of the idea to the French colonial era and its subsequent adoption by the Vietnamese Communist Party as a strategic objective. The study examines how this concept was perceived by Vietnam's neighbors, particularly Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, who viewed it as a vehicle for Vietnamese domination of the Indochinese peninsula. The research analyzes the role of the Indochina Federation question in the various conflicts that have plagued the region, from the Vietnam War to the Cambodian conflict of the 1980s. The paper argues that the fear of Vietnamese hegemonism, symbolized by the federation concept, has been a primary driver of ASEAN's foreign policy and its efforts to maintain a regional balance of power. The analysis concludes by assessing whether the concept remains a relevant factor in regional geopolitics.

The idea of an "Indochina Federation" has cast a long and contentious shadow over the history of modern Southeast Asia. This paper delves into the origins, evolution, and political impact of this controversial concept. The study begins by tracing the idea back to French colonial administrative structures, which grouped Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos together as French Indochina. It then charts how this geographical concept was transformed into a political and ideological objective by the Vietnamese Communist Party, which initially envisioned a federation of socialist states in the region. The core of the article is an analysis of how this ambition was perceived by other regional actors. For Cambodia and Laos, the concept was seen as a direct threat to their newly won sovereignty. For Thailand and the broader ASEAN bloc, it was interpreted as proof of Vietnam's hegemonic ambitions and a justification for a policy of containment. The paper examines key historical moments, such as the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in 1978, through the lens of this controversy, arguing that Hanoi's actions were widely seen as the practical implementation of the federation doctrine. The findings suggest that the Indochina Federation question, whether real or perceived, has been a powerful and enduring factor in shaping the security perceptions and alliance patterns of Southeast Asia, serving as a primary catalyst for ASEAN's political cohesion and its diplomatic strategy throughout the Cold War.