Most nations in Southeast Asia gained independence from western powers in the mid-20th century. The following is a timeline of the independence of some key Southeast Asian countries:
- Philippines: The Philippines gained independence from the United States on July 4, 1946.
- Indonesia: Indonesia proclaimed its independence from the Netherlands on August 17, 1945, but it was not formally recognized until December 27, 1949.
- Burma (now Myanmar): Burma gained independence from the United Kingdom on January 4, 1948.
- Thailand: Thailand (formerly known as Siam) was never formally colonized, so it was able to maintain its independence throughout the period of European colonization in Southeast Asia.
- Malaysia: Malaysia gained independence from the United Kingdom on August 31, 1957.
- Singapore: Singapore gained self-governance within the British Empire on June 3, 1959, and then became an independent republic on August 9, 1965, after briefly joining and separating from Malaysia.
- Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia: These countries gained their independence from France. Vietnam declared independence and defeated French forces at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954, leading to the Geneva Accords and the division of Vietnam into North and South. Laos gained independence on July 19, 1949, and Cambodia on November 9, 1953.
Overall, most nations in Southeast Asia gained independence from western powers between the late 1940s and early 1960s.
when did most nations in southeast Asia gain independence from western powers
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