It is not always made clear whether the dominoes are expected to fall because of Chinese aggression or because each country in turn infects its neighbor with the virus of communism. Be that as it may. as the theory goes. the United States must stand firm in South Vietnam to prevent the dominoes from falling no matter what the cost. The related paper tiger theory holds that unless the United States stands firm. we will lose face in the eyes of Asiatics and American power in the Pacific will collapse. This was the rationale that led Mr. Dulles and President Eisenhower to take up the French mantle after France was expelled from French Indochina by Ho Chi Minh in 1954 and other U.S. aid to President Diem to build an antiCommunist barrier in South Vietnam.
Identified stereotypes
Asiatics are viewed as easily influenced by communism and a loss of face will cause American power to collapse.