The article is dedicated to analyzing the external assistance of the People's Republic of China to Cambodia from the 1950s to the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements in 1991. The focus is on the evolution of the forms, scales, and directions of Chinese aid in the context of the changing international environment, decolonization processes, the Cold War, and regional conflicts in Indochina. It examines the economic, humanitarian, military-technical, and political components of assistance, as well as their relationship with Beijing's foreign policy interests. Special attention is given to the differences between the stages of cooperation – from supporting neutral Cambodia in the 1950s and 1960s to China's active involvement in the Cambodian conflict in the 1970s and 1980s. The study also addresses the role of Chinese aid as an instrument of influence aimed at strengthening the international positions of the PRC, countering the United States, Vietnam, and the USSR, and fostering loyalty among Cambodian political actors. The research is based on historical-chronological and comparative methods, utilizing elements of political realism and content analysis of official documents and scholarly sources. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the comprehensive examination of Chinese aid to Cambodia as a dynamic foreign policy tool, evolving according to the strategic priorities of the PRC and the regional context, rather than as a homogeneous humanitarian-economic phenomenon. The study shows that, despite the declared principles of non-interference and peaceful coexistence, Chinese aid at all stages was closely linked to the political expectations and objectives of Beijing. It concludes that in the 1950s and 1960s, aid contributed to strengthening Cambodia's sovereignty and neutrality, while in the 1970s and 1980s, it became a factor in escalating conflict and a tool of geopolitical rivalry. The author concludes that Chinese aid simultaneously facilitated the development of specific sectors of the Cambodian economy and increased the country's dependence on external actors. The findings allow for a deeper understanding of the logic of Chinese foreign policy in the second half of the 20th century and Cambodia's role in the PRC's strategy in Southeast Asia.
Panya Ry (Thu,) studied this question.