[TĐH: I am not sure that the US actively supported Khmer Rouge, as asserted in the following article. At that time, US had just lost South Vietnam (The Republic of VN) to North Vietnam (The Socialist Republic of VN), so US was depressed, angry at North Vietnam, embargoing the newly united Vietnam, and shy from involving Vietnam in anything. So, US was doing nothing related to Vietnam (except the embago), acting like US knew nothing about the astrocities happening in Cambodia. And EU simply followed its leader US. The entire Western world turned a blind eye toward Cambodia.
China punished Vietnam in 1979 for “invading” Cambodia but got black-eyed from Vietnam.
Call it anything you want, but Vietnam did eliminate Khmer Rouge and save the Cambodians from the worst astrocities in Cambodia’s history. You can ask Hun Sen directly about this.]
Lucia Millar · Lives in Asia Updated 5yr
Answer: There are many reasons for Khmer Rouge’s decision when they decided to attack Vietnam from 1975–1979. I think that they have five causes as the following:
(the Khmer Rouge wanted to restore the Angkor Empire)
- Firstly, Hatred coming from History
From Cambodian’s history, except some the early time of Vietnam’s independence regained from China in the 11th-12th Century, Vietnam together with Thailand always had tried to bully them such as seizing Lands from Former Cambodia kingdoms, assimilation of Cambodian people and also sometimes rule directly Cambodia. Because of all of these, Many Cambodians always see Vietnamese people with their doubtful eyesights and also worry about the capacity of Vietnam’s expansion to their land. With that worry and doubt, as well as extreme nationalism after years of oppression by French colonists, Poltpot and his comrades led Cambodia to the darkest time of Cambodian’s history. In my personal view, Poltpot and Khmer Rouge Regime was the representative of the dark side of Cambodian’s nationalism mixed little Chinese communism.
(Cambodian Ancient map under Khmer Empire/Angkor Empire)
- Secondly: Support much indirectly or directly from America, other Asean’s countries, and China.
China’s support: The Khmer Rouge took much direct support from China, even after their failure against Vietnam’s retaliation. China was one of the main sponsors for the Khmer Regime’s atrocities. Also, they encouraged Cambodia to attack Vietnam for their purpose of expansive influence and stopping Vietnam’s influence in Indochina (I shall not intend to cite any documents because all of them is clear and You could be easy to look for on Google)
America and other ASEAN countries’ support: In geopolitics confrontation in Asean after the end of the Vietnam war, America quickly normalized their relation with Anti-Soviet Union and Vietnam forces in the region especially China and even Khmer Rouge Regime. According to some documents of CIA’s Operation in the region during the period after American’s retreat out of Vietnam in 1973, 1975, and the memoir of Former Singaporean PM, it proved that America and CIA founded the Khmer Rouge regime against Vietnamese force in Cambodia. Thailand, Singapore, and other ASEAN countries also followed American’s step and support the Genocidal regime in Cambodia even though they knew what atrocities the Khmer Rouge Regime carried out in Cambodia.(US supports Pol Pot, You could check more information)
(Secret bombing of Cambodia -America)
- Thirdly, Miscalculation of Vietnamese’s response and determination
Although I know what the Khmer Regime had propagandized against Vietnam and the cause of their attack, I do not think that they intended to invade Vietnam in the full-scale invasion. They knew and could afford to estimate Vietnamese’s strength more much powerful than theirs. Nevertheless, With China’s support and Vietnamese context at that time after reunification 1975, They believed that Vietnam could probably attack Cambodia in the limited military operation along the Vietnam-Cambodian border but Vietnamese troops would not deepen Cambodian’s land. Moreover, Vietnam also could not afford to station their troops in Cambodia for such a long time.
(Vietnamese troops entered Cambodian Capital – Phnom-Penh 1978)
- Fourthly: Estimation wrongly the level of China’s support.
We do not have any documents that China promised to help Cambodia when Vietnamese soldiers attacked and controlled completely Cambodia. But from China’s responses at that time, obviously, China did help the Khmer Rouge but Chinese help was not enough to save that Cambodian’s genocidal regime. Because China could not afford to invade Vietnam as Vietnam did in Cambodia – They feared the Soviet union’s response. China decided to attack Vietnamese in the short and quick war with the big numbers of Chinese soldiers on the Vietnam-China border and forced Vietnam to retreat out of Cambodia. However, China did not threaten Vietnam successfully and then, withdrew, changed the way to support the Khmer Rouge regime. Then, All We know as I said above, China together with America funded the Khmer regime and protected the Khmer regime’s role at the United Nations. So, I think that the Khmer regime was the pawn and also the victim of China in the geopolitical game between the Vietnam-China-Soviet union, even including America.
(China attacked Vietnam in 1979 in response to help the Khmer regime)
- Finally, Overconfidence on their strength and Cambodian people’s support and also their victory after successfully taking power in Cambodia.
P/s: I write answers based upon the gist and requirement of the question. Readers are requested to read it with neutrality and rational approach. I throughout this answer has no intention of showing any disrespect towards any group of people or country.
Best wishes.
Lusia Millar.
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