Sihanouk was forced into exile: China is willing to take him in. How will he repay our country after returning to the country?

On the morning of March 19, 1970, the entire Beijing Capital Airport was under martial law. At that time, the Prime Minister was standing in the terminal waiting for someone anxiously. After a while, a plane flying from Moscow to Beijing landed at the Capital Airport. The cabin door opened, and a middle-aged man with a haggard face walked forward quickly, held the Prime Minister's hand and said: "Mr. Zhou, I can't go home. I have been deposed by my country."

Looking at the worried man in front of him, the Prime Minister said very firmly: "You are still the only head of state of your country, and we will never recognize anyone else."

So who is the deposed head of state? who? Why did he choose to seek help from our country when the country was in crisis? What assistance did our country provide him?

The head of state I want to introduce to you today is the legendary King of Cambodia-Norodom Sihanouk.

In the 1940s, the old king of Cambodia passed away suddenly. During his lifetime, the old king did not leave any oral or written will saying who would leave the throne to him. Therefore, the heir to the throne became the target of competition among the royal children. Under this circumstance, a very tragic battle broke out among the Cambodian royal family.

Because Cambodia’s national power was very weak at that time, Cambodia was already a French colony at that time, and the French had a very large say in important national events. After discussions between the Cambodian royal family and French officials, they invited the grandson of the old king who was studying in Saigon back to Phnom Penh to inherit the throne. He was Sihanouk.

Why Sihanouk was chosen to succeed him? This is because Sihanouk not only inherited the blood of two royal families at the same time, but was also young and easier to manipulate by the colonial government.

Sihanouk was only 19 years old when he came to power. He wanted to do something for Cambodia at that time. His greatest wish was to free Cambodia from French colonial rule so that Cambodia could truly become an independent country.

The society at that time was in the midst of World War II, and wars were raging in various countries. France was soon defeated by the German army. At this time, France did not have much energy to take care of the colony of Cambodia. This was a great time for Sihanouk to lead the Cambodian people to independence.

But the good times did not last long. Japan has been coveting Cambodia for a long time. In March 1945, the Japanese army occupied the entire territory of French Indochina by force in Operation Minghao, and the French colonial government disintegrated.

Although Japan ended France's colonial rule of Cambodia, Sihanouk did not surrender to Japan. Instead, he resisted tenaciously until Japan announced its unconditional surrender in 1945. At this point, Sihanouk could finally declare Cambodia's independence, but the fate of being colonized did not end there.

After driving away Japan, Cambodia still faces the last threat-Vietnam. Fearing a Vietnamese invasion, Sihanouk was pressured to recognize France's return, and Cambodia once again became a French colony.

After that, Sihanouk began a series of diplomatic visits to Western countries and appealed for Cambodia’s independence through international public opinion. With his efforts, Cambodia gained independence within the French Confederation in 1949. status.

But at this time, Cambodia's police and military power were still in the hands of France. Sihanouk was not satisfied with this situation. In order to arouse domestic enthusiasm against aggression, Sihanouk made great efforts. Finally, on November 9, 1953, Cambodia gained complete independence.

In March 1970, during Sihanouk’s overseas visit, a historic tragedy occurred in Cambodia. Lon Nol, then Prime Minister of Cambodia, launched a military coup with the support of the United States. Intending to overthrow Sihanouk's rule and establish a pro-American and treasonous reactionary regime.

Sihanouk was not in the country at this time, and no preventive measures were taken to prevent the Lon Nol coup. Moreover, Lon Nol also had the support of the United States. Sihanouk had no choice but to begin his journey into exile.

After the coup, Sihanouk, who was visiting Moscow, made a request for assistance from the Soviet Union, but at this time the Soviet Union made matters worse. The Soviet Union stated that it could provide Sihanouk with the most comprehensive assistance including weapons.

However, this assistance was not free, but they hoped that Sihanouk could become their puppet and Cambodia would obey their orders from now on. In view of this, Sihanouk did not compromise. But at this time, he was at the end of his rope. At this moment, he thought of his two closest friends.

The closest friends Sihanouk thought of when he was desperate were the President and Prime Minister of our country. On March 18, 1970, Sihanouk departed from Moscow for Beijing.

So why did Sihanouk think that the president and the prime minister would definitely lend a helping hand to him?

It turns out that when the Prime Minister attended the Bandung Conference in 1955, the then 33-year-old Sihanouk was also present. Although Cambodia did not establish diplomatic relations with China at that time, the Prime Minister still affirmed Cambodia's independence movement in his speech at that time, and also highly affirmed Sihanouk's leadership.

From then on, Sihanouk began close contacts with China, and with the efforts of both parties, China and Cambodia officially established diplomatic relations on July 18, 1958. So when Sihanouk encountered such great difficulties, he regarded China as his last and only hope.

After Sihanouk arrived in China, the Prime Minister specially packed up the former French Embassy in China for Sihanouk and used it as Sihanouk's official residence in China. And four days after arriving in China, Sihanouk announced the establishment of the Cambodian United Front, which put tremendous pressure on the Lon Nol group.

At the same time, China also expressed its firm position to the world, opposing hegemony and aggression, and canceled the 137th Warsaw Talks originally scheduled for May 20.

Faced with China’s support, Sihanouk stated that he would definitely compensate China when he returns to China in the future. At this time, the chairman said that he was not helping him for compensation. All China's assistance to him was free, and Sihanouk was grateful to China for its sincerity.

With China’s continuous support, Sihanouk finally returned to his country in 1975. When leaving China, where he had lived for five years, Sihanouk said with emotion: "Glorious and great China, I pay tribute to you. I love you sincerely and regard you as my second motherland."

Sihanouk returned to the throne after returning to China. After that, no matter what difficulties China faced internationally, Sihanouk stood firmly on China's side. When China faces natural disasters, he is always the first to lend a helping hand.

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the elderly Sihanouk still came to China to participate in the opening ceremony and a series of other activities.

After passing the throne to his son, Sihanouk even chose to retire in China. In 2012, he died of illness in Beijing at the age of 90.

Our motherland has gained new life after a century of humiliation and decades of struggle. We clearly understand the pain of being invaded and oppressed. Therefore, while we are working hard to become stronger, we are also trying our best to maintain world peace. Whenever there is hegemonism and aggression, you can always hear China's voice to maintain peace. This is our strong motherland.