China continues defending her Khmer Rouge ties

China considers that keeping a relationship with the Khmer Rouge was nothing other than a normal 'diplomatic relationship'. Hence, the nation continued defending her ties with the Khmer Rouge as the trial of a former commander of Khmer Rouge is underway.

China is continuing to defend her Khmer Rouge connections even as the trial for a former commander began in Cambodia. While defending their ties with the Khmer Rouge, the nation reportedly stated that the relationship was nothing other than a 'diplomatic one'. The Khmer Rouge, it should be kept in mind, have been blamed for the deaths of almost 1.7 million people during their 1975-79 rule. The rule, according to many, had been known as a reign of terror in which many of the victims were tortured and executed. Those that did not die in the hands of Khmer Rouge, succumbed later from numerous diseases, starvation or even exhaustion. A spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Ms. Jiang Yu reportedly stated that for a long time China had normal and friendly relationship with previous Cambodian governments. She later categorically included the name of Democratic Kampuchea while referring to Khmer Rouge, in the list of countries with those China had a relationship. While addressing a regular news conference, the spokeswoman stated that everyone knew that the government of Democratic Kampuchea had had a legal seat at the United Nations. The government was able establishing a broad foreign relationship with more than 70 countries, as well. While referring to the ongoing trial, the spokeswoman stated that the trial of former Democratic Kampuchean leaders was an internal political matter for Cambodia. She added that she hope international society could respect the options of the Cambodian government as well as people.