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 Philippines |  South Vietnam |
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The Philippines–South Vietnam relations refers to the bilateral relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the now defunct-Republic of Vietnam. The Philippines was an ally to South Vietnam during the Vietnam 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 under President Ramon Magsaysay established official contact with South Vietnam in 1954. In the later half of the 1950s, South Vietnamese President Ngo 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. Senator Claro 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 the Communist 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 President Carlos P. Garcia signed a Treaty of Friendship with South Vietnam. [1]
Some Filipino medics went to South Vietnam for humanitarian aid in the Vietnam 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 General Nguyễn Khánh sent a note to President Diosdado 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 the Armed 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 Minister Phan 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 the Ferdinand Marcos, who was not initially in favor of sending a second contingent, following the 1965 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 the Congress 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 the Viet 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 the Manila Summit of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization in October 1966, where seven members 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 in Operation 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 were killed 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 the South Vietnamese Navy which were escorted by the USS Kirk. 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 the Philippine Navy. [6]
The following South Vietnamese ships which escaped to the Philippines in April 1975 which were recommissioned as Philippine Navy ships.
| Name | Type | Acquired by South Vietnam | Formerly | Recommissioned by the Philippines as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Trần Hưng Đạo (HQ-1) | Destroyer | 13 February 1971 | USS Camp (DE-251) | BRP Rajah Lakandula (PF-4). [7] |
| RVNS Trần Quang Khải (HQ-02) | Frigate | 1 January 1971 | USCGC Bering Strait (WAVP-382) | BRP Diego Silang (PF-9). [8] |
| RVNS Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-05) | Frigate | 21 December 1971 | USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383) | BRP Francisco Dagohoy (PF-10). [9] |
| RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16) | Frigate | 21 June 1972 | USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375) | BRP Andrés Bonifacio (PF-7). [10] |
| RVNS Ngô Quyền (HQ-17) | Frigate | 21 June 1972 | USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386) | BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-8). [11] |
| RVNS Đống Đa II (HQ-07) | Patrol craft escort | 29 November 1961 | USS Crestview (PCE-895) | BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22). [12] |
| RVNS Ngọc Hồi (HQ-12) | Patrol craft escort | 11 July 1966 | USS Brattleboro (PCE(R)-852) | BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19). [13] |
| RVNS Van Kiếp II (HQ-14) | Patrol craft escort | 1970 | USS Amherst (PCE(R)-853) | BRP Datu Marikudo (PS-23). [14] |
| RVNS Chi Lăng II (HQ-08) | Fleet minesweeper | 17 April 1962 | USS Gayety (AM-239) | BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20). [15] |
| RVNS Chí Linh (HQ-11) | Fleet minesweeper | 24 January 1964 | USS Shelter (AM-301) | BRP Datu Tupas (PS-18). [16] |
| RVNS Đoàn Ngọc Tang (HQ-228) | Landing Ship Support Large | 15 September 1956 | USS LSSL-9 | BRP La Union (LF-50). [17] |
| RVNS Nguyễn Ngọc Long (HQ-230) | Landing Ship Support Large | ? | USS LSSL-96 | BRP Sulu (LF-49). [18] |
| RVNS Nguyễn Đức Bóng (HQ-231) | Landing Ship Support Large | 19 February 1966 | USS LSSL-129 | BRP Camarines Sur (LF-48). [19] |
| RVNS Hát Giang (HQ-400) | Landing Ship Medium - Hospital | Unknown | USS LSM-335 | BRP Western Samar (LP-66). [20] |
| RVNS Hương Giang (HQ-404) | Landing Ship Medium | 1 August 1961 | USS Oceanside (LSM-175) | BRP Batanes (LP-65). [21] |
| RVNS Cam Ranh (HQ-500) | Landing Ship Tank | 12 April 1962 | USS Marion County (LST-975) | BRP Zamboanga Del Sur (LT-86). [22] |
| RVNS Thị Nại (HQ-502) | Landing Ship Tank | 17 December 1963 | USS Cayuga County (LST-529) | BRP Cotabato Del Sur (LT-87). [23] |
| RVNS Nha Trang (HQ-505) | Landing Ship Tank | April 1970 | USS Jerome County (LST-848) | BRP Agusan Del Sur (LT-54). [24] |
| RVNS Hòn Trọc (HQ-618) | Patrol Gunboat Medium | ? | PGM-83 | BRP Basilan (PG-60). [25] |
| RVNS My Tho (HQ-800) | Patrol Craft Tender | 12 October 1970 | USS Harnett County (LST-821) | BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57). [26] |
| RVNS Can Tho (HQ-801) | Patrol Craft Tender | 23 April 1971 | USS Garrett County (LST-786) | BRP Kalinga Apayao (LT-516) [27] |
| RVNS Vinh Long (HQ-802) | Landing Craft Repair Ship | 30 September 1971 | USS Satyr (ARL-23) | BRP Yakal (AR-617). [28] |
Filipino businessmen set up ventures to aid South Vietnam's war 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 in Saigon. On December 1, the permanent chancery was opened at 1 Rue Aux Fluera, across the present day Bitexco Financial Tower, with Amb. Mariano Espeleta heading the mission. [1] South Vietnam as well established an embassy in Manila with the Chief Minister Cao Thai Bao heading the mission. [1] [29] South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem made a visit in the Philippines in the late 1950s while Philippine President Carlos 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 before Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese forces. Amb. Agustin Mangila and his two remaining staff were evacuated among the many during Operation Frequent Wind. [1]
South Vietnam was also a claimant of the Spratly Islands which the Philippines also claims. Both countries had control in some of the islands during South Vietnam's existence. Despite being allies in the Vietnam War, South Vietnam seized control of the Southwest Cay in 1975 which was formerly controlled by the Filipinos. Filipino soldiers guarding Southwest Cay went to Northeast 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 the Fall of Saigon. [30]
Edward Geary Lansdale was a United States Air Force officer until retiring in 1963 as a major general before continuing his work with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Lansdale was a pioneer in clandestine operations and psychological warfare. In the early 1950s, Lansdale played a significant role in suppressing the Hukbalahap rebellion in the Philippines. In 1954, he moved to Saigon and started the Saigon Military Mission, a covert intelligence operation which was created to sow dissension in North Vietnam. Lansdale believed the United States could win guerrilla wars by studying the enemy's psychology, an approach that won the approval of the presidential administrations of both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal Sr. was a Filipino lawyer, poet and politician who served as the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970. He was the father of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who followed his path as President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010.
Southwest Cay, also known as Vietnamese: Đảo Song Tử Tây; Pugad Island ; Mandarin Chinese: 南子島/南子岛; pinyin: Nánzi Dǎo, is an island on the northwestern edge of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. It is part of the atoll North Danger Reef, and just 1.75 miles (2.82 km) southwest of Northeast Cay. With an area of 12 hectares, it is the sixth largest of the naturally occurring Spratly Islands, and the second largest of the Vietnamese-occupied islands. Southwest Cay has the archipelago's highest point, at 4 meters above sea level. It was once a breeding place for birds, and was covered with trees and guano; export of guano had been carried out "on a considerable scale".
USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) was a United States Coast Guard high endurance cutter commissioned in 1967 at the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the sixth ship or boat to bear the name of Alexander J. Dallas, the Secretary of the Treasury under President James Madison (1814–1816). She is one of twelve Hamilton-class cutters built for the Coast Guard.
The USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722), was the eighth of twelve 378-foot dual-powered turbine/diesel Hamilton-class high endurance cutters (WHECs) built by Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Coast Guard commissioned the Morgenthau on March 10, 1969. After 48 years of continuous service the U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned the Morgenthau on April 18, 2017, and the ship was sold to Vietnam. On 27 May 2017 the Vietnam Coast Guard commissioned the former cutter as patrol ship CSB 8020.
This article covers the history of the Philippines from the recognition of independence in 1946 to the end of the presidency of Diosdado Macapagal that covered much of the Third Republic of the Philippines, which ended on January 17, 1973, with the ratification of the 1973 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
USS Bering Strait (AVP-34) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. She tended seaplanes during World War II in the Pacific in combat areas and earned three battle stars by war's end.
USS Cook Inlet (AVP-36) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. She tended seaplanes during World War II in the Pacific and earned one battle star for her service. After the war, she was transferred to the United States Coast Guard, and was in commission as the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Cook Inlet (WAVP-384), later WHEC-384, from 1949 to 1971. She saw service in the Vietnam War during her Coast Guard career, receiving two campaign stars for her operations during the conflict. Transferred to South Vietnam in 1971, she operated as the Republic of Vietnam Navy frigate RVNS Trần Quốc Toản (HQ-06) until South Vietnam's collapse in April 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War. She fled to the Philippines and in 1976 was transferred to the Philippine Navy, which never commissioned her, instead using her as a source of spare parts for her sister ships, the Andrés Bonifacio-class frigates, before discarding her in 1982.
BRP Andrés Bonifacio (PF-7) was a Philippine Navy frigate in commission from 1976 to 1985. She was one of six ex-United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders/ex-United States Coast Guard Casco-class high endurance cutters received from the United States after the Vietnam War, two of which were acquired to supply spare parts for the other four. Andrés Bonifacio was considered the lead ship of her class in the Philippine Navy, and she and her three commissioned sister ships were the largest Philippine Navy combat ships of their time.
USS Chincoteague (AVP-24) was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946 that saw service in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard as the cutter USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375), later WHEC-375, from 1949 to 1972. She was transferred to South Vietnam in 1972 and was commissioned into service with the Republic of Vietnam Navy as the frigate RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16), seeing combat in the Battle of the Paracel Islands in 1974. When South Vietnam collapsed at the conclusion of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, where she was commissioned into the Philippine Navy, serving as the frigate RPSAndrés Bonifacio (PF-7) from 1976 to 1985.
The BRP Francisco Dagohoy (PF-10) was an Andrés Bonifacio-class frigate of the Philippine Navy that served from 1979 to 1985. She was one of six ex-United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tenders and ex-United States Coast Guard Casco-class high endurance cutters received from the United States after the Vietnam War, two of which were cannibalized for spare parts without entering service. She and her other three sister ships were the largest Philippine Navy ships of their time.
The BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-8) was an Andrés Bonifacio-class frigate of the Philippine Navy in commission from 1977 to 1990. She was one of six ex-United States Navy Barnegat-class seaplane tenders/ex-United States Coast Guard Casco-class high endurance cutters received from the United States after the Vietnam War, two of which were acquired to supply spare parts for the other four. She and her three commissioned sister ships were the largest Philippine Navy combat ships of their time.
USS Castle Rock (AVP-35) was a United States Navy Barnegat-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946 which saw service in the late months of World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard as the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383), later WHEC-383, from 1948 to 1971, seeing service in the Vietnam War during her Coast Guard career. Transferred to South Vietnam in 1971, she served in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as the frigate RVNS Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-05) and fought in the Battle of the Paracel Islands in 1974. When South Vietnam collapsed at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Trần Bình Trọng fled to the Philippines, where she served in the Philippine Navy from 1979 to 1985 as the frigate RPSFrancisco Dagohoy (PF-10).
USS Wachapreague (AGP-8) was a motor torpedo boat tender in commission in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, seeing service in the latter part of World War II. After her Navy decommissioning, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1946 to 1972 as the cutter USCGC McCulloch (WAVP-386), later WHEC-386, the fourth ship of the U.S. Coast Guard or its predecessor, the United States Revenue Cutter Service, to bear the name. In 1972 she was transferred to South Vietnam and served in the Republic of Vietnam Navy as the frigate RVNS Ngô Quyền (HQ-17). Upon the collapse of South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, she fled to the Philippines, and she served in the Philippine Navy from 1977 to 1985 as the frigate RPSGregorio del Pilar (PF-8) and from 1987 to 1990 as BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-12).
The Barnegat class was a large class of United States Navy small seaplane tenders (AVP) built during World War II. Thirty were completed as seaplane tenders, four as motor torpedo boat tenders, and one as a catapult training ship.
The Philippines–Vietnam relations refers to the bilateral relations of the Republic of the Philippines and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Since the end of the Cold War, relations between the two countries have warmed significantly. Vietnam is sometimes referred to as the only communist military ally of the Philippines, especially after Vietnam joined ASEAN in 1995. Both nations have cooperated in the fields of education, tourism, agriculture, aquaculture, trade, and defense. Additionally, both nations have similar positions on the South China Sea issue, with Vietnam backing the Philippine victory in the ICC against China, and the Philippines backing to a certain extent the claim of Vietnam in the Paracels. Both nations have overlapping claims in the Spratlys, but have never made military confrontations as both view each other as diplomatic allies and ASEAN brethren.
The history of the Philippine Army began in during pre-colonial era as different tribes established their own citizen force to defend the Balangays from intruders. Army was organized forces through the years who fought Spanish oppression and even other invaders such as Dutch and British who attempted to conquer the Philippines in early centuries.
The Philippine Civic Action Group – Vietnam (PHILCAG–V) was the Armed Forces of the Philippines contingent sent to the Republic of Vietnam or South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This was an answer by the Philippine government to the request made by South Vietnam and the United States for combat troops. While combat troops were sent, the main mission given to PHILCAG was in the area of pacification, civic engagement, engineering, and medical missions. At its peak, the PHILCAG-V had more than 182 officers and 1,882 enlisted personnel cantoned at the Tay Ninh Combat Base. In the course of 8 years, the Philippines sent about 10,450 personnel during the Vietnam. 9 members of the contingent have died, and more than 64 have been wounded.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]Also at the rites was Nguyen Van Loc, charge d'affaires of the South Vietnamese embassy in Manila
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