Southeast Asia

by Andrew Reddaway

Overview

This variant introduces a new map but maintains the standard Diplomacy rules owned by Hasbro. It straddles the equator, spanning the area from Burma in the west to Papua New Guinea in the east, and from Taiwan in the north to northern Australia in the south.

The intention of the variant is for seven closely-matched powers to contest 11 neutral supply centres, very similar in game play to the original European game.

The fictitious historical basis for the variant is that economic and political instability broke out in China and South-east Asia in 1997. Pro-democracy movements have caused unrest in territories such as East Timor and Hong Kong. China split into several factions, with the southern portion seeking allies among the members of Asean for its expansionist ambitions.

Setup

The seven powers are:

Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Neutral supply centres are:

Singapore, Brunei, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Spratly Islands, the Marianas islands, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

All Powers start with three supply centres except Indonesia, who has four. The game is more fleet-centred than Europe, except on the continent around Laos etc. Vietnam, China and Thailand all start with one fleet, the others start with two.

Starting Positions

• Austria: Army Darwin, Fleet Cairns, Fleet Port Hedland
• China: Army Guiyang, Army Kunming, Fleet Guangzhou
• Indonesia: Army Balikpapan, Army Jakarta, Fleet Medan, Fleet Surabaya
• Malaysia: Army Kuala Lumpur, Fleet Kota Bharu, Fleet Kuching
• Philippines: Army Cebu, Fleet Davao, Fleet Manila
• Thailand: Army Bangkok, Army Chiang Mai, Fleet Thammerat (East Coast)
• Vietnam: Army Da Nang, Army Hanoi, F Saigon

Game Play Comments

The map has two dominant features - the mainland and the archipelago. On the mainland, the three-way contest between Thailand, Vietnam and China means that if two of these nations ally against the other, that nation is in serious trouble. The seafaring nations face different challenges. Supply centres, even home cities are separated by oceans, so fleets are more useful than armies. Even for the mainland nations, sea power is essential for a solo win.

Federation of Australia

• Main religious affiliations: Roman Catholic, Anglican
• Official language: English
• Governmental system: Federal constitutional monarchy - democratic
• Leaders: Prime Minister John Howard, Queen Elizabeth Windsor II
• Founding Father: Captain James Cook

Australia is the only real Corner Power, and has a very defensible position. Its only threat early in the game is an aggressive Filipino-Indonesian alliance.

Peoples' Republic of China

• Main religious affiliations: Non-religious, Chinese folk religions
• Official language: Mandarin Chinese
• Governmental system: Communism (moving toward "Market Leninism")
• Leaders: Prime Minister Li Peng, President Jian Zemin
• Founding Father: Chairman Mao Zedong

China will be keen to advance its historical claims on Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Spratly islands, but it will have to contend with other nations before it can do so. China, like Thailand, faces the risk of losing its coastal centres if it concentrates too heavily on a land war. Burma is China's "back door", although Thailand has a greater claim on it.

Republic of Indonesia

• Main religious affiliations: Islam
• Official language: Bahasa Indonesia
• Governmental system: Multiparty Republic - "Guided Democracy"
• Leader: President Suharto
• Founding Father: First president Sukarno

Indonesia plays a similar role to Russia in the original game. Defending against attacks on two or three fronts is nearly impossible, but there are great opportunities to attack or stab, eg against Thailand and Malaysia. It is important for Indonesia to either develop a strong alliance with Australia, or defeat that nation early in the game, since an Australian stab could be devastating.

Federation of Malaysia

• Main religious affiliations: Islam
• Official language: Bahasa Malaysia
• Governmental system: Multiparty Constitutional Monarchy
• Leader: Prime Minister Dr. Mahatir, King Tuanku Jaafar Abdul Rahman (son of the founder)
• Founding Father: Tunku Abdul Rahman

Malaysia's position is in some ways similar to that of Germany's, with excellent early opportunities, but a vulnerable central position. If Malaysia can control the Malaysian sea, it will have good prospects throughout the game.

Republic of the Philippines

• Main religious affiliations: Roman Catholic
• Official languages: Pilipino, English
• Governmental system: Multiparty Republic - democratic
• Leader: President Fidel Ramos
• Founding father: Andres Bonafacio

The Philippines have a strong postion, with early opportunities in all directions. It is also more defensible than Malaysia or Indonesia, having adjacent home supply centres. An alliance with either Australia or China will help secure solid growth.

Kingdom of Thailand

• Main religious affiliations: Buddhism
• Official language: Thai
• Governmental system: Constitutional Monarchy: democratic
• Leaders: Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, King Bhumibol Adulyadej
• Founding Father: Khun Bang Klang Thao

Thailand has better possibilities for mainland expansion than any other nation, but like China, it faces the risk of having its coastal centres overrun if it concentrates too heavily on a land war. For example, an Indonesian-Malaysian alliance can exert strong pressure on Thammerat. Thailand must also guard its "back door", Burma.

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

• Main religious affiliations: Buddhism, folk religions
• Official language: Vietnamese
• Governmental system: One-party republic - socialist
• Leaders: Prime Minister: Phan Van Khai, Chairman: Tran Duc Luong
• Founding father: Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam perhaps has the weakest position in the game, situated between the other land powers and the archipelago. Diplomatic possibilites are strong however, since it can seek alliance with either Thailand or China, and also exert influence into the oceans

Notes

• For PBEM games, the one-letter abbreviation for Malaysia has the letter L, since M is reserved for Game Master.
• Seventeen supply centres are required to win.
• Only two supply centres can be taken in the first year without fear of interference: East Timor by Australia and the Marianas Islands by The Philippines.
• The only foreign home supply centre adjacency is Thammerat-Kota Bharu.
• Some of the territories (especially the seas) are fictitious or inaccurate. They were designed to promote balanced and interesting play.