In November 1978 Vietnam and the Soviet Union sign a treaty of amity which included a mutual military assistance pact. Thereby, in the “fraternal strife” between Soviet und Mao communism, Vietnam lets its relationship to China cool down considerably. In December 1978 in Vietnam, the “Kampuchean National Liberation Front” is formed with the goal to overthrow and liquidate the Khmer Rouge, rebuild the Cambodian economy, reestablish peaceful, foreign political relationships, and pardon those Khmer Rouge who “sincerely repent”. After the Khmer Rouge repeatedly attacked Vietnamese villages in the border zone in 1977, the Vietnamese Army invades Cambodia on December 24^th, 1978, and within a few days advances all the way to Phnom Penh. The Khmer Rouge retreat to the west of the country. Under the rule of Heng Samrin the People's Republic of Kampuchea is proclaimed. 225.000 Vietnamese soldiers remain as an occupational force in Kampuchea. The new People's Republic, under strong influence of Vietnam, is only recognized by soviet-friendly Eastern bloc states, not though by China, the US, the ASEAN states, or the UN. These continue to support the Khmer Rouge with military aid and international relief supplies, and, thereby, prolong the civil war by years.

 

 

> History of Cambodia 1945 to today
> Cambodia 1945 - 1954
> Cambodia 1954 - 1965
> Cambodia 1965 - 1975
> Cambodia 1975 - 1979
> Cambodia 1978 - 1991
> Cambodia 1987 to today