In January 1979, Vietnamese forces seized Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. This led to the downfall of the Khmer Rouge. Despite that, the Khmer Rouge continued to threaten peace and stability in Cambodia into the 1990s. In developing its policy towards Cambodia in this period, New Zealand faced the complexities of dealing with a regime installed as a result of an illegal invasion but one which was opposed most strongly by the Khmer Rouge. New Zealand's policy continues to be a source of controversy and debate.
NEW ZEALAND--FOREIGN POLICY--CAMBODIA MILITARY HISTORY