People's Republic of Kampuchea

The People's Republic of Kampuchea was a Marxist-Leninist state that existed from 1979 to 1989. Created in opposition to the US and Chinese supported government of Democratic Kampuchea, the People's Republic of Kampuchea was backed by the Soviet-aligned Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

People's Republic of Kampuchea សាធារណរដ្ឋប្រជាមានិតកម្ពុជា
Map of the People's Republic of Kampuchea
Flag	State Emblem

Context

Communist Party of Kampuchea: pro-Vietnam faction

While initially allied with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during the Second Indochina War, some factions of the Communist Party of Kampuchea saw this as an issue of realpolitik rather than any ideological alignment. The members of the Communist party who were ideologically aligned with Vietnam held anti-American and anti-monarchist views, those party members would found the People's Republic of Kampuchea. While the party members ideologically aligned with the government of Pol Pot and Democratic Kampuchea were opposed to the Soviet Bloc while also supporting the monarchy.

Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation

Persecution of elements friendly to Vietnam began after a failed coup attempt led by Vorn Vet and the rest of the pro-Vietnamese sections of the party. Persecuted military and party officials fled and established the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation, based out of Vietnam, in order to serve as the basis for a new Cambodian state. It served this purpose until giving way to the People's Republic of Kampuchea and Khmer People's Revolutionary Party.