Reddit mentions of History of Post-War Southeast Asia: Independence Problems

>\>So, things that C&H conveniently forgot to mention: North Vietnam invaded Laos (!),

Well, remember that it depends on what you regard as "Laos" at the time. Laos was divided between the royalist government (basically colonial leftovers put in charge of the newly formed Laotian state, even though they were basically all colonial collaborationists) and the Pathet Lao territories. It was effectively in civil war, so there wasn't really a finalized, decided upon Laos. The North Vietnamese were active in Pathet Lao territories, illegal, yes, but only if you didn't recognize any legitimacy to Pathet Lao territories.

>\> and the Communists gained their power as lackeys for these foreign invaders (!)

This isn't true. Yes, the Pathet Lao were allied with the Vietminh during the Indochina War, and got a lot of support from them, but they were a legitimate party active in Laos dedicated to Laos. It's not as if they were just some gang of thugs they hired to fight for them. As time dragged on, it's true the North Vietnamese were playing favorites and increasingly supporting the Pathet Lao with military action, but the Pathet Lao weren't lackeys

>\> Although the Communists did well in the 1958 elections, they absolutely did not have a majority in government at the time,

This is true (though worth noting this is because the 58 elections were only meant to contest newly integrated territories in the north, they were not fully national elections).

>\> Xananikôn was elected constitutionally by the National Assembly, including the Communists.

True in word, but lacking in context. Xananikon was elected to replace Souvana Phouma. However, you have to remember that Phouma was only kicked out (via a vote of no confidence in teh parliament) because the US suspended aid after it found out leftists won the northern regional elections in 58 (and also to a lesser extent in protest over staggering corruption). Xananikon went on to dissolve parliament and arrest most of the Pathet Lao, so Xananikon was at least just as responsible for stonewalling, if not far more.

>\> The Communists refused to stand down their armies and join the national government, and when the government tried to make them, North Vietnam invaded again, with the Communists supporting the foreign invaders.

Well, this is where things get complicated. Firstly, it started with a misunderstanding and the US being quite explicitly against the integration of the Pathet Lao in the the Laotian army. What likely would have been a minor argument about how the Pathet Lao would integrate into the army (which could be worked out) turned into war, but it's not hard to see why the communists may have mistrusted the rest of the government. After all, Xananikon straight up had the communists arrested and parliament disbanded. Not only that, but US Aid, which was directly tied to the economy, was withheld everytime the leftists made ground, it was clear that they were not considered desirable. North Vietnam did send troops in to support the Pathet Lao, but that was again not really a territorial expansion so much as it was supporting a group whom they had historical ties to and it wasn't really an "invasion" in the sense of conquest or annexation, it was in support of the Pathet Lao, who were in a rather precarious position.

>\> It was in this context that the Neutralists launched their coup, and Phoumi’s CIA-backed countercoup was actually in opposition to it. This is a really different story than C&H’s version.

Kong Le wasn't really a neutralist. He was just a pissed off militaryman that ended up aligning with the lefitsts and neutralists.

>\> C&H never lie per se, but they leave out things as significant as a giant foreign invasion happening during the middle of the events they’re describing.

True, but they never mentioned the Thai soldiers who were found supporting Phoumi. Also, describing it as an invasion in the sense of conequest isn't accurate. They just wanted a path to launch their incursions into South Vietnam through. They weren't hoping to expand in Laos or aynthing like that.

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If you want more information, read this book:

https://www.amazon.com/History-Post-War-Southeast-Asia-Independence/dp/0821401602

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the man who wrote it isn't exactly pro-leftist, but even he basically goes on to say that at best, the US policy towards Laos at the time was directly manipulative with little regard for the Laotian people or its peace.