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accept international involvement, the nature of the conflict
and the dangers which it poses to the stability of Southeast
a whole make it imperative that we continue to work
Asia as
for a solution.
We have discussed these matters with all
the governments involved, including China and the Soviet Union.
Dur-
Of all of the Southeast Asian nations, Thailand has been
the most seriously affected by the fighting, in Kampuchea.
ing recent months, as a direct result of the conflict, Thailand's
refugee burden has increased by the amount of perhaps 100,000
Kampucheans at various times. Many of these are of Chinese
origin, deliberately expelled by Vietnamese troops. The result
has been an immense new political and economic problem, given
the inability of the international community to resettle many
com
of the 200,000 refugees already in Thailand.
Worse, it has
I
created a security problem since it is most difficult to
distinguish between Pol Pot forces and supporters on the one
hand, and actual refugees on the other. Large concentrations
of these persons on the border could become a provocation for
the Vietnamese to send forces into Thailand, expanding the war to
a dangerous level.
The fighting in Kampuchea has also forced the Royal Thai
Government to reevaluate its military posture and to take
steps to upgrade its armed forces. Thailand is accordingly
increasing its purchases of military equipment from the United
States and other suppliers.