Why this matters now
Asian decolonisation is tested for: pre-WWII context (Japanese occupation of European colonies 1941-45 weakened European prestige); the “wave” chronology (Indonesia 17 Aug 1945, Philippines 4 July 1946, India-Pak 14-15 Aug 1947, Burma Jan 1948, Sri Lanka Feb 1948, Israel 14 May 1948, Vietnam Sep 1945 + 1954, Malaya 31 Aug 1957, Singapore 9 Aug 1965, Bangladesh 16 Dec 1971); the Bandung Conference 1955 (29 Afro-Asian nations) which gave birth to NAM 1961; the Vietnam War + Korean War.
Pre-1945 context
By 1939, European colonies in Asia: British India + Burma + Ceylon + Malaya + Singapore; French Indochina (Vietnam + Laos + Cambodia); Dutch East Indies (Indonesia); Portuguese Goa + Macau + Timor; US Philippines; Japanese Korea + Taiwan.
Japanese occupation 1941-45: Japan defeated UK at Singapore Feb 1942 + Dutch at Java + USA at Philippines — shattered myth of European invincibility. Japan promoted Asian co-prosperity sphere ideology + sponsored anti-colonial nationalists (Subhash Bose INA, Sukarno PETA, Aung San Burma).
First wave (1945-50)
| Date | Country | Leader |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 1945 | Indonesia proclaimed (Japanese surrender; Dutch refused; 4-yr war 1945-49) | Sukarno + Mohammad Hatta |
| 2 Sept 1945 | Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) declared by Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi (Japanese surrender day) | Ho Chi Minh |
| 4 July 1946 | Philippines from USA (promised under Tydings-McDuffie Act 1934) | Manuel Roxas |
| 14-15 Aug 1947 | Pakistan + India (UK) | Jinnah, Nehru |
| 4 Jan 1948 | Burma (UK) | U Nu |
| 4 Feb 1948 | Ceylon/Sri Lanka (UK) | D.S. Senanayake |
| 14 May 1948 | Israel (UK Mandate) | Ben-Gurion |
| 27 Dec 1949 | Indonesia (formal Dutch recognition) | Sukarno |
Vietnam + Indochina (1945-75)
First Indochina War (1946-54): France refused to recognise Ho Chi Minh’s DRV. 8-year war — Viet Minh guerilla. Battle of Dien Bien Phu 13 March - 7 May 1954: General Vo Nguyen Giap besieged + defeated 16,000 French troops — ended French Empire in Asia.
Geneva Conference (April-July 1954): divided Vietnam at 17th parallel; North Vietnam (Communist Ho Chi Minh) + South Vietnam (Diem). Cambodia + Laos became independent. US replaced France as guarantor of South.
Vietnam War (Second Indochina War 1955-75): Viet Cong insurgency South + North Vietnamese support. US escalation under Lyndon B. Johnson (Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 7 Aug 1964). Tet Offensive 30 Jan 1968 turned US opinion. Paris Peace Accords 27 Jan 1973. Fall of Saigon 30 April 1975 — reunification 2 July 1976. Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot) took Phnom Penh 17 April 1975 — killed 1.5-2 million 1975-79 (Cambodian Genocide).
Bandung Conference + NAM
Bandung Conference (18-24 April 1955): 29 newly-independent Asian + African states gathered at Bandung, Indonesia, hosted by President Sukarno. Attended by Nehru (India), Zhou Enlai (China), Nasser (Egypt), U Nu (Burma), Sukarno (Indonesia), Norodom Sihanouk (Cambodia), Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Nkrumah (Ghana’s Prime Minister-designate).
10 Bandung Principles incorporating Panchsheel (peaceful coexistence) first articulated in 1954 Sino-Indian Agreement on Tibet. Anti-colonialism, anti-racism, peaceful coexistence.
Birthed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM, 1961) — Belgrade Summit 1-6 September 1961 with Nehru + Tito + Nasser + Sukarno + Nkrumah founders.
Later (1957-71)
- Malaysia (Malayan independence 31 Aug 1957): 1957 Malayan Emergency anti-communist ended.
- Singapore joined Malaysia 1963; expelled 9 August 1965; Lee Kuan Yew 1st PM.
- Hong Kong: UK colony; 1 July 1997 returned to China (Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984).
- Macau: Portuguese colony; 20 Dec 1999 returned to China.
- Goa + Daman + Diu: Portuguese until Operation Vijay 17-19 Dec 1961 by India.
- Bangladesh: East Pakistan; 1971 Liberation War; independence 16 December 1971; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
- Maldives: 26 July 1965 (UK).
- Bhutan: never colonised; Treaty with India 1949.
UPSC angle
Know DECOLONISATION OF ASIA — began with Japanese surrender 1945; pre-WWII: British India+Burma+Ceylon+Malaya+Singapore + French Indochina (Vietnam+Laos+Cambodia) + Dutch East Indies Indonesia + Portuguese Goa+Macau+Timor + US Philippines + Japanese Korea+Taiwan; Japanese occupation 1941-45 shattered European invincibility, sponsored INA Subhash Bose + Sukarno PETA + Aung San; FIRST WAVE: INDONESIA proclaimed 17 AUG 1945 SUKARNO+HATTA (Dutch refused 4-yr war 1945-49 recognition 27 Dec 1949), VIETNAM DRV 2 SEPT 1945 HO CHI MINH Hanoi, PHILIPPINES 4 July 1946 USA (Tydings-McDuffie 1934) Roxas, PAKISTAN+INDIA 14-15 AUG 1947, BURMA 4 Jan 1948 U Nu, CEYLON 4 Feb 1948 Senanayake, Israel 14 May 1948 Ben-Gurion; FRENCH INDOCHINA WAR 1946-54 → DIEN BIEN PHU 13 March - 7 May 1954 Vo Nguyen Giap defeated French 16000 ended Empire Asia; GENEVA CONFERENCE April-July 1954 divided Vietnam 17th parallel + Cambodia+Laos independent; VIETNAM WAR 1955-75 LBJ Gulf of Tonkin 7 Aug 1964, TET OFFENSIVE 30 Jan 1968 turned US opinion, PARIS PEACE 27 Jan 1973, FALL OF SAIGON 30 APRIL 1975 reunification 2 July 1976; CAMBODIA Khmer Rouge POL POT Phnom Penh 17 April 1975 killed 1.5-2 million 1975-79; BANDUNG CONFERENCE 18-24 APRIL 1955 INDONESIA SUKARNO HOST 29 states (Nehru+Zhou Enlai+Nasser+U Nu+Sukarno+Sihanouk+Ho Chi Minh+Nkrumah) → 10 BANDUNG PRINCIPLES incl PANCHSHEEL (1954 Sino-India Tibet) → NAM Belgrade 1961; MALAYSIA 31 Aug 1957 (Emergency ended), SINGAPORE 9 AUG 1965 (joined Malaysia 1963 expelled Lee Kuan Yew), Maldives 26 July 1965, BANGLADESH 16 DECEMBER 1971 Liberation War Mujib, HONG KONG 1 July 1997 returned China (Sino-British Joint Decl 1984), MACAU 20 Dec 1999 returned China, GOA OPERATION VIJAY 17-19 DEC 1961 India.
Frequently asked questions
Which was the first Asian colony to gain independence after WWII?
Indonesia proclaimed independence on 17 August 1945 under Sukarno; followed by the Philippines 4 July 1946 (from USA).
What was the Bandung Conference?
18-24 April 1955 meeting of 29 newly-independent Asian + African states at Bandung, Indonesia, hosted by Sukarno. Adopted 10 Bandung Principles incl. Panchsheel; birthed the Non-Aligned Movement (1961).
When did Vietnam reunify?
On 2 July 1976 after the Fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. Earlier divided by the Geneva Conference 1954 at the 17th parallel.
When did Hong Kong return to China?
On 1 July 1997 under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration. Macau followed on 20 December 1999.