The 45th anniversary of the victory of the war defending the southwestern border and, together with the Cambodian troops and people, defeating the genocidal regime

Viet Nam and Cambodia are two neighboring countries with friendly and harmonious relations, with their people having a long history of solidarity, mutual support, and assistance. During the resistance against the common enemy, French colonialists and American imperialists, in response to the call of the Cambodian revolution, Vietnam was ready to send volunteer troops to help its neighboring country. The victory in Cambodia’s struggle against the U.S. imperialist forces on April 17, 1975, was also a victory of the enduring and sincere solidarity between the three Indochinese countries.

I. CONTEXT

Vietnam and Cambodia are two neighboring countries with friendly and harmonious relations, and their peoples have long shared a history of solidarity, mutual support, and assistance. During the struggle against the common enemies of French colonialism and American imperialism, in response to the call of the Cambodian revolution, Vietnam was ready to send volunteer troops to assist its neighbor. The victory of the Cambodian people in their resistance against American imperialism on April 17, 1975, was also a victory of the enduring and sincere solidarity among the three Indochinese countries.

However, immediately after taking power in April 1975, the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary regime exploited the achievements of the revolution and betrayed the Cambodian people. They established what they called the "Democratic Kampuchea," implementing a genocidal regime, purging political opponents, and killing millions of innocent civilians, while destroying hundreds of thousands of schools, hospitals, temples, and other cultural institutions. Between April 30, 1975, and April 30, 1977, Pol Pot reorganized administrative units, structured the government apparatus in a militarized fashion at the village, commune, district, and provincial levels, and purged anyone deemed an opponent. He built up military forces, growing from 7 divisions at the time of liberation to 12 regular army divisions with all branches of the military, along with tens of thousands of local soldiers. Pol Pot declared: “Even if we have to kill another million people, we will resolutely do so. It is better to kill an innocent person than to leave an enemy alive; in a family, if one person goes to the forest to join the resistance, then three generations will be killed.” The patriotic forces of Cambodia were faced with an incredibly difficult situation, as expressed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen: “We had nothing left but our bare hands, waiting for death to come.”

The Cambodian people bid farewell to the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers as they completed their international duty and set off to return to their homeland.

For Vietnam, the Pol Pot - Ieng Sary regime distorted history, provoked, and incited ethnic hatred. In just two years (from 1975 to 1977), they mobilized 41% of their military forces and equipment to approach the Vietnamese border, committing bloody crimes against our people, severely violating the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Vietnam, and trampling on the good values of the friendship between our two countries and peoples.

On May 3, 1975, they seized Phu Quoc Island; on May 10, 1975, they took Tho Chu Island, killing over 500 civilians. On land, they provoked our border forces, and relocated border markers at several points I n the provinces of Tay Ninh, Kon Tum, and Dak Lak. In October 1975, they infiltrated the Pa Cham (Lo Co) area, encroaching on Mộc Bài, Khuoc, Vat Sa, Tà Nốt, and Tà Bạt. At the end of 1975 and the beginning of 1976, the Pol Pot forces launched surprise attacks, penetrating deep into Vietnamese territory, with some areas attacked more than 10 kilometers inland, such as the Sa Thay River region (Gia Lai, Kon Tum). In late February and early March 1976, they provoked the border posts No. 7 and No. 8 in Bu Prang (Dak Lak). At the end of 1976, they increased their provocations and encroachments in the southwest border areas of Vietnam. In Military Region 7, they committed 280 acts of provocation and encroached on 20 border points. In Military Regions 5 and 9, border incursions increased in both number and severity. In March and April 1977, the Pol Pot forces conducted several military exercises along our border under the pretext of "defending the region" and "ensuring domestic security," but in reality, they were preparing for war. At the end of April 1977, Pol Pot mobilized 5 divisions and hundreds of artillery pieces and tanks to approach the Vietnamese border, preparing for a large-scale invasion of our southwestern border.

To protect the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland and the lives and property of the people, our Party and State instructed the Military Regions, localities, and units to strengthen the preparation of forces and battle positions, resolutely countering the enemy's invasion. At the same time, we persisted in building a peaceful and friendly border, repeatedly proposing negotiations with the Cambodian government. However, Pol Pot and Ieng Sary not only rejected all our goodwill but also escalated their subversive activities, relentlessly preparing for war. On the night of April 30, 1977, while our military and people were commemorating the second anniversary of the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the country, the Pol Pot regime launched an attack along the entire border in An Giang Province, officially beginning the invasion of Vietnam’s southwestern border.

II. THE COURSE OF THE WAR

1. Stage 1 (from April 30, 1977, to January 5, 1978): Pol Pot launched three major attacks into Vietnamese territory.

On April 30, 1977, they attacked 14 out of 16 border communes in An Giang Province, destroying villages, schools, and production facilities, and shelling densely populated areas near the border and deep into Vietnam’s territory. In response to the blatant invasion by Pol Pot’s forces, our border forces, militia, and guerilla units fought valiantly, repelling the enemy. Our military used one regiment (from Division 330), one naval regiment, and two local battalions from An Giang to counterattack, killing 300 enemy soldiers and forcing Pol Pot's troops to retreat across the border.

On May 23, 1977, the Central Military Commission issued a directive to the southern forces: "We must resolutely protect our territorial sovereignty, never tolerate any provocation or encroachment by the reactionary forces of Cambodia on our territory; at the same time, respect Cambodia’s territorial sovereignty." Following this directive, the main military units and logistical forces were prepared and on standby for combat.

From September 25, 1977, Pol Pot concentrated 9 main divisions and local forces to launch their second large-scale attack into An Giang, Kien Giang, Long An, and Dong Thap provinces, moving toward Tay Ninh, causing severe suffering to the Vietnamese people. In three communes of Tan Bien and Ben Cau (Tay Ninh), Pol Pot's forces killed over a thousand civilians.

In response to this escalation, the General Staff decided to mobilize a portion of our main forces to drive back the Pol Pot incursions, reclaim the occupied territories, and then consolidate our forces.

On November 15, 1977, after discovering that we had pulled back our forces, Pol Pot launched another attack aimed at capturing Tay Ninh town. In response, from December 5, 1977, to January 5, 1978, our forces launched a counteroffensive along Routes 7, 1, and 2, pursuing the Pol Pot forces and inflicting heavy losses, which disrupted their plan to capture Tay Ninh.

Using the deceptive tactic of "robbing and then crying out," Pol Pot brought the border war to the world stage. On December 31, 1977, they issued a statement falsely accusing the Vietnamese Army of "invading Democratic Kampuchea," aiming to isolate Vietnam internationally. On the same day, our government issued a statement on the Vietnam-Cambodia border issue, affirming our stance and principles: we would resolutely defend our independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, always respect Cambodia’s sovereignty, and do everything possible to protect the solidarity and friendship between the two countries. We exposed Pol Pot's conspiracies and barbaric crimes against our people along the southwestern border.

2. Stage 2 (from January 6, 1978, to January 7, 1979):

Despite suffering heavy losses in Stage 1, Pol Pot, with external support in terms of weapons, equipment, and military advisors, continued to prepare and mobilize troops to the Vietnamese border. In January 1978, Pol Pot sent 2 more divisions to the border, continuing their attacks and committing numerous atrocities against our people.

In response, the General Staff deployed Division 341 (from Corps 4) to reinforce Military Region 9, ready for combat, and ordered our units along the entire southwestern border to remain alert and maintain active defense to support our Party and State's political and diplomatic efforts. On February 5, 1978, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued a three-point statement: (1) Both sides would end all military activities and withdraw forces 5 kilometers from the border; (2) Negotiations would be held to sign a treaty of friendship and non-aggression, as well as a border agreement; (3) Agreement on an appropriate form of international monitoring to ensure compliance with international norms.

Ignoring our goodwill, Pol Pot continued to mobilize forces near the border and launched attacks on several points in our territory. Our forces resolutely repelled the attacks, regaining the occupied areas.

From March 26, 1978, our army switched to the offensive, pushing the Pol Pot forces back from the border and forcing them into a defensive position. At the same time, we directly supported the Cambodian revolutionary forces’ uprising, which culminated in a major revolt on May 26, 1978, in the Eastern Military Region, weakening the Pol Pot forces. The Cambodian revolutionary army established several guerrilla bases, especially those near the Vietnamese border, beginning to form a unified command structure.

On June 15, 1978, the Politburo and the Central Military Commission held a meeting to discuss how to counter Pol Pot’s invasion of the southwestern border and the tense situation on the northern border. They decided to launch a people’s war, actively counterattacking and continuously striking the enemy using all forces, large and small, both inside and outside the border, aiming to destroy, exhaust, and disintegrate key enemy forces.

After the Cambodian revolutionaries’ uprising in the Eastern Military Region on May 26, 1978, Pol Pot’s forces were not only engaged in purging their internal ranks but also had to deal with the continuing activities of the Cambodian revolutionary forces. To support their survival and development, and to prepare for our dry-season campaign in 1979, from June 14 to September 30, 1978, we used Corps 3, Corps 4, two divisions from Military Region 7, and two divisions from Military Region 5 to launch another major offensive along Routes 1, 7, the western border of Tay Ninh, and Route 19, to destroy a significant portion of the enemy’s forces and weaken Pol Pot’s military strength.

Caught off guard by the timing, scale, and methods of our operations, Pol Pot was forced into a defensive position. Our offensive helped the Cambodian revolutionaries in the Eastern Military Region, forcing Pol Pot’s forces to fight on both the border and the domestic fronts. In cooperation with the Cambodian revolutionaries in this campaign, we eliminated 6 divisions, severely weakening their main forces and pushing most of them out of Vietnamese territory.

From May to November 1978, Vietnam helped the Cambodian revolutionary forces develop 15 battalions, 5 battalion cadres, and 24 task forces, building party organizations, preparing to form a front, and establishing leadership structures. With Vietnam's assistance, on December 2, 1978, in the liberated zone of Snuol District, Kratie Province, Cambodia, the Front for National Salvation of Kampuchea was officially announced, declaring its 11-point revolutionary platform, including the determination to unite and rally all patriotic forces to overthrow the Pol Pot regime, abolish

III. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE VICTORY

Historical Significance

The victory in the Southwestern Border Defense War was a legitimate and necessary act of self-defense by the Vietnamese people against the invasion caused by the Pol Pot-Ieng Sary regime. This victory reaffirmed that the Vietnamese people's will for independence, self-reliance, and the spirit of national unity, as well as international solidarity, is a powerful source of strength, capable of defeating any conspiracy or subversive actions by reactionary forces and firmly protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the nation.

At the same time, in response to the call for help from the Cambodian revolution, Vietnam supported the Cambodian people in overthrowing the genocidal Pol Pot regime, saving the Cambodian people from extinction. This was an action based on legal and moral grounds, demonstrating the noble, pure international spirit, and a deep sense of solidarity. It reflected the long-standing, loyal relationship between the Communist Parties, the governments, and the people of the two countries, continuing the tradition of fighting together against common enemies. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed, "If it had not been for January 7, 1979, the Cambodian people would not have what they have today. This is a historical truth that no reactionary force can deny.”

The victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime also contributed to maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the world. It helped expose the nature of racial, ethnic discrimination and dictatorship, serving as a warning to humanity about the dangers of narrow nationalism and neo-fascism.

After years of investigation with hundreds of thousands of documents and evidence collected, on November 16, 2018, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), under the auspices of the United Nations, issued a verdict declaring that former leaders of the Pol Pot regime had committed genocide against humanity. Although 45 years have passed, this verdict has brought justice to the innocent victims who were slaughtered by the Pol Pot genocidal gang, once again affirming the righteousness and unselfish assistance provided by Vietnam to Cambodia.

Lessons Learned

The victory in the Southwestern Border Defense War and the overthrow of the genocidal regime in Cambodia left valuable lessons for the current process of building and defending the homeland.

Always maintain revolutionary vigilance, stay informed, and quickly detect and destroy any invasion plans or subversive tactics by the enemy.

Deeply understanding President Ho Chi Minh's instruction, “Whether at peace or in war, we must remain proactive, anticipate the situation, and prepare in advance,” our Party, people, and military must always maintain vigilance in every situation, focusing on the goal of protecting the nation. Especially in the current context of complex global and regional developments, we need to closely forecast situations, detect the enemy early, accurately assess both threats and potential allies at any given moment, and remain in a proactive strategic posture. This requires preparation in terms of mindset, forces, and strategic positions, to be ready to thwart any acts of aggression and ensure the country's independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Strengthen the national defense and people's security, especially in strategic, key areas, borders, and islands.

Proactively participating in building and reinforcing a robust national defense system and people's security in strategic areas, especially at the borders and on islands, is extremely important. This requires a thorough understanding of the Party's viewpoints on the goals and demands of building a strong and comprehensive people's defense system, integrating economic, political, cultural, social, defense, and security power. The responsibility for defending the homeland, ensuring national security, and building a people's defense system must be shared by the entire political system, with leadership from the Party, management by the government, and active participation from all social sectors and the people.

Focus on building a revolutionary, regular, elite, and gradually modernized military with increasing quality and combat effectiveness.

The people's armed forces, with the core being the People's Army and the People's Police, must continue to play a leading role in building a strong people's defense and security system. The military must constantly enhance the nation's overall strength to prevent and be ready to defeat any form of enemy invasion. It is essential to ensure that the country is not caught off guard, especially by aerial or naval attacks. The People's Army and Police should be revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern, with some services and arms advancing toward full modernization. This involves improving the quality and effectiveness of political work in the military and police forces, enhancing education and awareness to boost the understanding and responsibility of the Party, people, military, and every citizen in strengthening national defense and security and protecting the homeland.

Be agile in understanding global and regional developments, and strengthen diplomatic relations with other countries, particularly neighboring nations.

Deeply embracing the Party's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, Vietnam must enhance and improve its diplomatic efforts, especially with neighboring countries, in order to maintain a peaceful environment for building and developing the nation. In foreign relations, it is essential to be clear-headed, maintaining strategic principles while being flexible tactically. We should actively turn adversaries into partners, aligning their interests with those of national defense and security, and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

IV. PROMOTING THE SPIRIT OF VICTORY AND CONTINUALLY STRENGTHENING THE "GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONSHIP, TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP, COMPREHENSIVE COOPERATION, AND LONG-LASTING SUSTAINABILITY" BETWEEN VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA

1. Vietnam’s Support for Cambodia to Prevent the Return of the Genocidal Regime and Help Rebuild the Country

After the great victory of January 7, 1979, although the ruling apparatus of the Pol Pot regime was overthrown from the central to grassroots levels, remnants of Pol Pot's forces, around 40,000 strong, were still hiding in the border areas of western and northwestern Cambodia and some areas inland. They continued to receive external support to oppose the revolution. They intensified political and diplomatic activities, trying to exert pressure to expel the Vietnamese Volunteer Army from Cambodia while the revolutionary forces in Cambodia remained weak. They hoped to launch a counteroffensive to recapture Phnom Penh, with the delusion of reestablishing the genocidal regime.

On February 18, 1979, in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Pham Van Dong of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and President Heng Samrin, representing the People's Revolutionary Council of Cambodia, signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation. Both sides pledged to fully support and assist each other in all fields by any necessary means to strengthen the defense of independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and peaceful labor of the people of each nation.

In line with the commitments made in the treaty, after the victory, the Party, State, Army, and people of Vietnam continued to stand side by side with the Cambodian people's revolutionary forces to prevent the return of the genocidal regime and bring about the revival of Cambodia for peace and stability in the region.

Over the ten years from 1979 to 1989, Vietnam carried out three main tasks in Cambodia: 1) Supporting the Cambodian revolutionary armed forces in building their forces and conducting joint operations to eliminate the remnants of Pol Pot's forces in the western and northwestern border areas and inland; 2) Helping Cambodia build and strengthen its revolutionary government system, from the central to local levels, and organizing training for cadres at all levels; 3) Sending thousands of Vietnamese experts and volunteer soldiers to assist in the recovery of Cambodia in all areas: economy, culture, education, transportation, healthcare, and improving the living conditions of the people.

During the ten years of international duties in Cambodia, Vietnamese volunteers and experts demonstrated unwavering will and deep dedication to the revolutionary cause of the Cambodian people, overcoming numerous challenges to complete all tasks successfully. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese volunteers and experts sacrificed their lives on Cambodian soil for the noble international mission. The Cambodian people fondly referred to these Vietnamese soldiers as "soldiers of Buddha." When the situation in Cambodia became stable, on September 26, 1989, the final units of the Vietnamese Volunteer Army withdrew from Cambodia, amidst the heartfelt affection of the Cambodian people.

On the day of the Vietnamese army's withdrawal, Cambodia’s Pracheachon newspaper published an editorial stating: “During the tragic years under the Pol Pot genocidal regime, there were many powerful and wealthy nations in the world, but only the poor neighbor, Vietnam, came to save our people." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen affirmed: “Without Vietnam’s help, Cambodia would not have what it has today, that is for sure.”

2. The "Good Neighborly Relationship, Traditional Friendship, Comprehensive Cooperation, and Long-Lasting Sustainability" between Vietnam and Cambodia Continues to Strengthen and Develop

In recent years, the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia has been continuously strengthened and developed across all fields, bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries and making positive contributions to peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world.

The political relationship between the two countries has continued to develop positively, with high-level leadership maintaining visits, exchanges, and contacts in various forms, even during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooperation between ministries, sectors, and localities through practical mechanisms has become increasingly effective, deepening cooperation in multiple fields. Activities from the Front, friendship parliamentary groups, cultural associations, and grassroots organizations in both countries, particularly in border provinces, have been lively and widespread, enhancing mutual understanding among the people, especially the younger generations, about the traditional solidarity, friendship, cooperation, and mutual support between the two nations and peoples.

Economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries, particularly between border provinces, has seen positive results. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade grew robustly, reaching USD 10.57 billion in 2022, an increase of nearly 11% compared to 2021. In the first 11 months of 2023, trade between Vietnam and Cambodia reached nearly USD 8 billion, with the total for 2023 expected to reach USD 9 billion. Both sides have agreed to strive for a bilateral trade target of USD 20 billion in the future. Vietnam is currently Cambodia's third-largest trade partner (after China and the U.S.) and the largest in ASEAN. To date, Vietnam has 205 active investment projects in Cambodia, with a total registered capital of USD 2.94 billion, making it the leading ASEAN investor and one of the top five foreign investors in Cambodia. Notably, Cambodia ranks second among the 79 countries and territories in which Vietnam has outward investment.

Defense and security cooperation has been continuously enhanced, becoming one of the key pillars of bilateral relations. Both sides have consistently affirmed that no hostile force will be allowed to use their territory to harm the security of the other. Based on high-level agreements, government agencies, and local people along the border are actively working together on border demarcation. The two countries have signed two legal documents recognizing the results of demarcating approximately 84% of the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia and are currently working on resolving the remaining 16% to continue building a peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and sustainable border.

Other areas of cooperation, including education, training, transportation, culture, healthcare, and telecommunications, have been further strengthened. Both governments provide favorable conditions for their citizens to live and work in each other's territory, in accordance with the laws of both nations. Vietnam grants hundreds of long-term scholarships annually to Cambodian students studying in Vietnam, and the number of Vietnamese students studying in Cambodia is also growing. The two countries frequently organize cultural and artistic exchanges, particularly in border areas. Vietnam regularly sends volunteer doctors to provide free medical consultations and distribute medicine to the Cambodian people. Cambodian patients receiving medical treatment in Vietnam are charged the same fees as Vietnamese citizens. Additionally, both countries closely cooperate in international, regional, and subregional forums, contributing to raising the profile and prestige of both nations in the region and the world.

In the future, despite the rapidly changing and unpredictable global and regional landscape, the two nations, Vietnam and Cambodia, will continue to be vigilant and work together to combat narrow nationalism, resist slander, and fight against any efforts to sow division. This will further strengthen the "good neighborly relationship, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-lasting sustainability" between the two countries, for the benefit of the people of both nations and for peace, stability, and development in the region and across the globe.

Source: http://baoquankhu4.com.vn/