914 Chapter 6
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: On March 28, 1969, Cambodian Head of State Sihanouk acknowledged
and denounced the presence of Vietnamese Communists in Cambodia in an effort to
persuade them to leave the country. North Vietnamese soldiers were encamped in the
northeastern provinces of Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, and Stung Treng, and in the central
provinces of Kompong Cham, Prey Vang and Svay Rieng. The North Vietnamese
continued to build up their bases in Cambodia, and clashes became inevitable. The
Cambodian prime minister, after June, reported that North Vietnamese soldiers had
attacked Cambodian troops and army equipment. On October 16, 1969, Prime Min-
ister Lon Nol released a statistical summary of why there had been so many clashes
between Cambodian and North Vietnamese troops. Cambodia then demanded that
North Vietnam withdraw its troops and Viet Cong from Cambodian territory.
In March 1970, a coup deposed the Cambodian prince Sihanouk. Sihanouk formed
an opposition in exile to the new government supported by North Vietnam, which
invaded Cambodia with its own troops. Cambodia declared war, and the dispute ends
with their participation in the Vietnam War (see MID#611).
Coding changes: Start Date changed from March 28, 1969. End Date changed from
October 16, 1969. Outcome changed from Unclear. Fatalities changed from None.
MID#1435
Dispute Number: 1435
Date(s): May 4, 1975 to January 7, 1979
Participants: 816 Vietnam/811 Cambodia
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side A (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: A series of conflicts between Vietnam and Cambodia occurred almost
immediately after North Vietnam eliminated South Vietnam and after the Khmer
Rouge had come to power in Cambodia. The two former allies were quickly at odds.
The origins of the conflict largely lay in the legacy of French colonial rule, which drew
arbitrary borders between the new states the French left behind. Vietnamese enclaves
became part of Cambodia, and Cambodian enclaves persisted in Vietnam. Both gov-
ernments wanted not just to rectify this arbitrary line between them, but maximize
their influence as well.
Cambodia moved first and attacked Vietnamese positions in the island Phu Quoc in
May 1975. Conflict simmered at a low level for the next two years before both sides
dispatched regular military personnel to the conflict areas in lieu of local militias. A
Cambodian attack in the Tay Ninh border province dated September 24, 1977, inau-
gurated war in earnest between the two states. The border issue served to start the
war, but the general ambition for Vietnam became clear: Pol Pot had to go. Pol Pot
was aware of his precarious situation as well. He needed Chinese support—Vietnam
was pro-Soviet—because he began facing increasing opposition domestically as the
conflict progressed. Vietnam struggled through 1978 but had a breakthrough by year’s
end. A new offensive launched on December 26, 1978, led to the successful occupa-
tion of Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979. Pol Pot and his confidantes fled the capital.
Vietnam installed Heng Samrin as head of state, ending the conflict.