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mark the launching of the dry season offensive. The Secretary of State issued a statement on 23 November (Annex A) expressing great concern and calling on Vietnam to stop such actions.
6.
Vietnam maintains some 160,000 troops in Cambodia, claiming this is a necessary security measure to counter the Chinese "threat". Although Peking supported Hanoi during the Vietnam War, relations deteriorated in 1978 when Vietnam expelled over a quarter of a million ethnic Chinese, and China cut off all aid. Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia in December 1978 provided the pretext for China's invading Vietnam in February 1979 as a "lesson". Since the installation of the pro-Vietnamese Heng Samrin regime in Phnom Penh, Peking has been the main backer of the resistance forces, channelling most
of her aid through the Khmer Rouge.
7.
China has continued to apply pressure on Vietnam's northern border in response to Vietnamese offensives in Cambodia.
This
year the pressure has been more prolonged and has included the occupation of high points inside Vietnam. But another Chinese
invasion seems unlikely.
8. The Soviet Union's continued economic and military aid to Vietnam is estimated at around US$1.2 billion per year. The Soviets have been granted access to bases in southern Vietnam, particularly at Cam Ranh Bay, where the deployment of Soviet military aircraft provides the Soviet Union with added strategic options in the area.
9. UK policy is to join ASEAN and Western countries in putting pressure on Vietnam to withdraw from Cambodia. In July 1979 the Prime Minister announced the end of British aid to Vietnam. The UK together with the majority of UN members supports the credentials of Democratic Kampuchea. We have co-sponsored ASEAN resolutions on Cambodia calling for a Vietnamese withdrawal and free elections. This year's was endorsed by 110 countries. Like China the UK supports the resistance coalition led by Prince Sihanouk, Son Sann (Khamer People's National Liberation Front) and Khieu Samphan
(Khmer Rouge).
But Pol Pot's continuing pre-eminence in the Khmer
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/Rouge