SOUTH AND EAST ASIA 23 the political situation. Till now, we have not spoken of the socialist countries, particulary China and today the Indochinese peninsula. It is quite evident that these countries cannot remain indifferent to the developments of the contemporary situation. That is why China, for example, has granted a certain political and material support to movements like the guerillas in Malaysia and the Philippines. However, we have no idea if the new policy of reconciliation with China, which the countries in the capitalist sphere of influence have commenced since the end ©f the Vietnam war, will change things. It is of course erroneous tuopeakofadomino theory with regard to the change of political regimes in the Asian countries, for revolutions are not imported from outside. But there is no doubt that solidarity exists between countries which have brought about a socialist revolution and movements or parties which have the same objectives in other countries even if it sometimes gives way to the demands of ^peaceful co-existence." However, the international scene in south, south-east and east Asia will always be dominated by American economic power. This is pursued in solidarity with Japanese interests and to a lesser degree with those of western Europe. The loss of influence in the Indochinese peninsula has expressed itself in a change in the American strategy. In Asia, primary materials are not so vital except for a few precise cases. 'Platforms of production9 have become more important. These have made possible a strategic retrenchment and even a redeployment of military forces through the establishment of bases in the Indian Ocean, so as to safeguard the petrol routes. The Americans have certainly not given up their economic hegemony. In the short run, they will continue to support the strong governments in Asia. In the middle run, they will probably try to negotiate certain formulas of partnership with the national bourgeoisie. In the long run, one cannot exclude the danger of new wars. The societies of south and east Asia after the Vietnam war find themselves at the crossroads. Their future will depend on the possibility that the masses of the people will politically affirm the defence of their interests, and on a radical transformation of international economic relationships. 1 F Houtart, Religion and Ideology in Sri Lanka, Hansa, Colombo 1974, p 266-270. 9 Nguyen Khac Vieu, Histoiredu Vietnam^ Sociales, Paris 1970, p 123-130; Andre Masson, Histoire du Vietnam, P U F, Paris 1972, p 91-93; Nguyen Van Phong, La Soc- iete Vietnamienne de 1882 a 1902, P U F, 1971, p 242-256. 8 W F Wertheim, "Indonesian Society in Transition: the Changing Status System," in Andre Beteille, Social Inequality, Penguin Books, London 1969, pp 193-212; P Worsely "Social Class in Emergent Countries: Bourgeoisie and Petty Bourgeoisie^, ibid. pp 213-238. 4 Kim Chang-mum and Chung Jae-sum, Catholic Korea Yesterday and Today, Catholic Korea Publishing Co, Seoul 1964. 5 T C Verghese, Agrarian Change and Economic Consequences—Land Tenures in Kerala, 1850-1960, Allied Publishers, Bombay 1970, p 9-51.