Lon Nol Coup And The Development Of Nixon's Cambodia Policy (1969-1970)

Researching contemporary Cambodia's Lon Nol coup and the development of Nixon's Cambodia policy before and after the coup has both academic value and practical significance. It was the time that the Nixon announced America would end the Vietnam War as soon as possible, and gradually fulfilled the Vietnamization in the Indo-China region, then the coup happened in Cambodia, Cambodia had a very important geographic, strategic and military significance to the achievement of Vietnamization. Coup overthrew the neutral Sihanouk regime, built the Lon Nol government which Pro-US. This event not only caused great shock in worldwide, but also had a important impact on the Vietnamization.Before the Lon Nol Coup, the head of Cambodia-Sihanouk in order to survive in the cracks, he had to adopt a neutral policy. He didn't too close with the West, and also kept a distance with the Communist countries. At the beginning, he kept silent to the actions of North Vietnam and the United State. However, with the North Vietnam expended the scope of its activities in Cambodia, the Cambodia civilians were affected more and more serious. Sihanouk couldn't rid the North Vietnam army on the border, and the economy and politic in Cambodia full of crises. Sihanouk's prestige had been affected greatly.In 1969, Sihanouk in order to ease the crisis of Cambodia, he restructured the government. Lon Nol, who full of ambitious and Sirik Matak, Sihanouk's enemy served as prime minister and Deputy Prime Minister. They began to eliminate political dissidents, increasingly isolated Sihanouk. Constant war on the border and serious crisis in domestic let Sihanouk finally decided to leave for Moscow and Beijing to seek assistance, to help him persuade the North Vietnamese to leave Cambodia. But Sihanouk had not taken back the message that Moscow and Beijing willing to help him. Lon Nol and Sirik Matak stirred up the hatred when Sihanouk was in abroad, they let the people launched demonstrations and attacked on North Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia. Then they criticized Sihanouk to connive North Vietnamese violation of Cambodian territory and confused the people.Lon Nol coup happened in March 18 that day, but the planning and implementation of the coup has experienced a long time, including two military politicians achieved their goals step by step. This incident changed the situation at the time, making the quiet country experienced many reigns after the coup. In 1969, the United States bogged down in Vietnam was ready to get out from the Vietnam War; the government was planning to withdraw armies and wanted to speed up the implementation of the plan of Vietnamization, too, Cambodia was important to the Vietnamization program. Although United States was dissatisfied to Sihanouk's actions to North Vietnam, Sihanouk also kept silent to United States'secret bomb. This prevented the process of "Vietnamization", but the neutral Cambodia, after all, not backward communist country, the situation can be basically balanced.Lon Nol coup completely disrupted the withdrawal plan of America. Although the neutral Sihanouk was overthrown, apparently the establishment of Lon Nol regime which pro-US made Richard Nixon very excited, he wanted to support Lon Nol in Cambodia against North Vietnamese and accelerated the process of "Vietnamization" program. But the assistance to Lon Nol would be against by the domestic protests and delayed the withdraw plans. Nixon decided to overtly claim that he respected the neutrality of Cambodia, and covertly give the Cambodia military and economic aid.However, the development of the fact was far beyond the pace of aid, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong wanted to make Sihanouk back in power and started deep into Cambodia from the border, they cut off access to the main channel to Phnom Penh, isolated it. The Cambodian army lacked of arms, ammunition and training couldn't resist the North Vietnam armies, Lon Nol regime was possible to be overthrown at any time. Nixon was anxious very much, he didn't want to see Lon Nol regime was overthrown that made South Vietnam regime survived more difficult; and also didn't want to give up the Lon Nol regime because the against from State Department and the Department of Defense.As a result, Nixon made a bold choice, he not only continued to assist to Lon Nol in the military and economic, but also wanted to send troops to Cambodia to destroy North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, which met with strong opposition from the U.S. government officials. However, Nixon resolutely sent troops to Cambodia. From the initial dispatch ground troops to South Vietnam, the United States only on the air and artillery support, to the end, the United States sent troops to South Vietnam, which pushed the Nixon to the cusp.There are six parts in the paper:Preface, this part elaborates the significance of the topic and research review. First, there is an overview of the importance of the geographical location of Cambodia, the impact of Lon Nol coup on the withdrawal plan of U.S, and whether the U.S. involved in the coup. Second, generalize and summarize the relevant research results.Chapter one, "Nixon restored the diplomatic relations with Cambodia, " there is an overview of the international background before the Lon Nol coup, the relationship between U.S. and Sihanouk regime, and the evolution of U.S. policy before the coup in Cambodia.Chapter two, "The relationship between overthrow the Sihanouk regime and the U.S. government, and the process of Lon Nol coup, " focuses on the planning process and the formation of the Lon Nol coup, analyze and depict if the America had a involvement to the coup, then multi-reference many points, making an conclusion. Then a there is a detailed description to the progress and outcome of Lon Nol coup.Chapter three, "The development of Cambodia policy after the Lon Nol coup" is the focus of the article, explain different response of the United States to the Lon Nol coup in detail, and how the plan of assistance to Lon Nol government take shape through the numerous conflicts and many plans, analyze the importance of assistance to Lon Nol government.Chapter four, "Nixon's decision to send troops to Cambodia and its consequences" main expounds how the policy of sent troops to Cambodia by Nixon to be planed step by step, then it comes true. Discuss how Nixon and Kissinger deal the problem with the Congress and the Defense department, then they decide to send troops although others opposite it.Conclusion, this part discusses the impact of the Lon Nol coup and the significance and the evolution of Nixon's Cambodia policy.