The impact of Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia on Sino-Thai relations

Abstract

Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in December 1978 led to an alignment between Thailand and China. The convergence of security interests between these two countries began in 1975 and provided the impetus which culminated in the cementing of this alignment in 1979. To substiantiate this claim Thailand's security options and China's Southeast Asia Policy are assessed before and after Vietnam's invasion. It is concluded that Thai and Chinese authorities reached an agreement only months after December 1978 to firmly oppose Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia.