This dyad belongs to the conflict Cambodia (Kampuchea) - Vietnam (North Vietnam)
Summary of conflict Cambodia (Kampuchea) - Vietnam (North Vietnam)
The armed border conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam began 1975 when Cambodian forces attacked Vietnam along the southern Cambodian-Vietnamese border. Cambodia’s aim was allegedly to recapture the area formerly known as Kampuchea Krom or Cochin China. The border clashes intensified in 1977 but were then turned into an internationalised intrastate conflict in Cambodia, with Vietnam supporting the ousting of the Khmer Rouge in 1979 and subsequently supporting the new Cambodian government.
Background to the conflict
The border conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam has its roots in the 18th century when Vietnam annexed the area formerly known as Cochin China or Kampuchea Krom (the Mekong delta and the whole of the present southern Vietnam). The area had previously been part of the Khmer (Cambodian) Empire and contained a large Khmer speaking population. From 1954, when Cambodia gained its independence, up to the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia in December 1978, regaining the annexed areas was an important part of the Cambodian foreign policy. It was, however, not until the Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia in 1975 that these aspirations turned into an armed conflict between Cambodia and Vietnam.
Three years of border clashes
The armed conflict began on 1 May 1975, the day after North Vietnamese troops had taken Saigon in southern Vietnam. The Khmer Rouge, which had forcibly seized power in Cambodia two weeks earlier and subsequently renamed the country Democratic Kampuchea, launched attacks against Vietnamese territory along the southern parts of their joint border. Later the same month, there were also a number of clashes on the offshore islands, such as the Tho Chu (Vietnamese territory) and the Poulu Wai (Kampuchean territory).
The situation was reportedly stable during 1976 and meetings to resolve the border dispute were held in Phnom Penh on 4-18 May. Both parties agreed to adhere to the map used by France before 1954 and to arrange liaison committees to settle the border dispute. The parties were, however, not able to come to an agreement regarding the maritime border. Vietnam did not agree to use the Brévié Line (the colonial era demarcation line) as the final borderline and the talks broke down. Despite the breakdown of the negotiations, the number of border clashes decreased during the second half of 1976.
Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 1977, however, and the number and intensity of the border clashes increased once again. Contradictory reports regarding the locations and intensity of the clashes were given by both countries. The lack of neutral sources in the area caused further uncertainty regarding the course of the conflict and the exact locations of the fighting. Clashes were reported along the whole southern Kampuchean-Vietnamese border, including several islands, but the most frequently cited area was the so called “Parrot’s Beak” (a strip of Kampuchean territory that stretches into Vietnam).
Negotiations were proposed by Vietnam in June 1977 but was rejected by Kampuchea later the same month. The situation escalated further in September, with continued attacks throughout the rest of the year. Diplomatic relations between Kampuchea and Vietnam were broken off on 31 December.
From interstate conflict to internationalised intrastate conflict in 1978
Vietnam withdrew its forces from Kampuchea in early 1978. Kampuchea claimed victory but several sources argued that Vietnam was merely rethinking its strategy. During the first four months of 1978, Vietnam allegedly started to support the creation of opposition groups inside Kampuchea, with the aim to oust the Khmer Rouge and establish a pro-Vietnamese government. The Khmer Rouge also claimed that Vietnam staged several attempts to remove them from power during 1978. On 2 December, KNUFNS (Kampuchean National United Front for National Salvation) was formed with Vietnamese support. The group’s stated goal was to forcibly remove the Khmer Rouge from power. On 25 December, Vietnam launched a full-scale invasion against Kampuchea under the pretext of supporting KNUFNS.
Despite reported border clashes during 1978, the conflict was not considered active that year, since the incompatibility turned from territorial claims to governmental power in Kampuchea. No statements made by Kampuchea or Vietnam concerning the territorial dispute was found for 1978. Instead, several sources noted Vietnam’s involvement in Kampuchea’s internal conflict over governmental power. The fighting was therefore seen as a part of the internationalised intrastate conflict over governmental power in Kampuchea.
