Building a cultural alliance: academic and cinematic exchanges between the Republic of China and the Republic of Vietnam in the 1960s

This article examines the notable instances of cultural exchange between the Republic of China (ROC, or “Taiwan”), and the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, or “South Vietnam”) during the prolonged 1960s. By focusing on the efforts of the two republics to forge an alliance through the promotion of Confucian heritage, academic research, and multilingual films, the article offers new insights into the “cultural cold war” at the grassroots level. While acknowledging the influence of the rivalry between the United States, Soviet Union, and the People’s Republic of China on international and domestic dynamics, I seek to highlight the agency and autonomy of newly organized states and the experience and involvement of ordinary people who adapted to and navigated Cold War political currents.