“If Indochina [Vietnam] falls, Thailand is put in an almost impossible position. The same is true of Malaya with its rubber and tin. The same is true of Indonesia. If this whole part of South East Asia goes under Communist domination or Communist influence, Japan, who trades and must trade with this area in order to exist must inevitably be oriented towards the Communist regime.”

Question

-Vice-President Richard Nixon, Speech 1953

Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Which Cold War belief or idea about communism does Nixon present in this speech?
(1 point)
Responses

détente
détente

arms race
arms race

domino theory
domino theory

military escalation

Answer 1

Nixon presents the belief in the domino theory in this speech. He suggests that if one country in Southeast Asia falls to communism, it will lead to a chain reaction, causing neighboring countries to also fall under communist influence.