One day, Mao suddenly thought of his old friend Sihanouk. During the Cultural Revolution, the Sihanouk monarchy was overthrown. Because Cambodia’s affairs had taken an unfavorable turn, he was invited to reside long-term in Beijing. Mao greatly valued hosting this rare royal guest.

That night, Mao kept recalling Sihanouk’s years in China. At midnight, as he thought of him, Sihanouk appeared. To Mao’s surprise and delight, Sihanouk stood at the entrance of his living room. Mao hurried to greet him warmly, shook his hand, embraced him affectionately, and invited him to sit and reminisce.

Sihanouk said: “I have heard that the Jade Emperor intends to put you on trial to settle your case. I am deeply concerned. After receiving word from him that you wished to see me, I came at once.”

Mao replied: “You are an old friend of the Chinese people. I remember in 1956 I first invited you to Tiananmen to review the National Day ceremony. You were only in your forties then—young and accomplished, full of charisma. You promoted a trinity of Buddhism, monarchy, and socialism, maneuvered between the Eastern and Western blocs, upheld neutrality, and balanced the left and right factions at home. That was no easy task!”

Sihanouk said: “It was very difficult to maintain control of the situation. In 1960, when my father died, I also had to assume the kingship. The leftists, including Pol Pot, influenced by China’s Great Leap Forward and People’s Communes, left Phnom Penh and entered the jungles to wage armed struggle, planting the seeds of the Khmer Rouge. On the other hand, right-wing forces were dissatisfied with my closeness to China and the Soviet Union. Maintaining domestic stability was extremely hard.”

Mao said: “You sought survival between left and right, and among China, the Soviet Union, and the United States. Vietnam and Laos were already in civil war. It was very difficult for you to remain untouched.”

Sihanouk replied: “Extremely difficult. In 1970, General Lon Nol and Prince Sirik Matak launched a coup while I was visiting the Soviet Union. I was deposed, and Lon Nol became president. I sought help from the Soviet Union but failed. Fortunately, you agreed to let me come to Beijing and gave me strong support, allowing me to establish a government-in-exile.”

Mao said: “The Soviet Union was far away. By the time of Brezhnev, they were more focused on Europe and less on the East than in Stalin’s era. Cambodia was a small country; they were unwilling to intervene. China is your close neighbor. When you had difficulties, it was our duty to help.”

Sihanouk said: “You provided an entire hotel as my residence, accommodating dozens in my entourage. I was deeply grateful.”

Mao replied: “It was unconditional. I even said at the time that you could let us bear more of the burden. The more we bore for you, the happier I would be. The more supporters gathered around you, the better. If they could not go to the battlefield, let them come here—one thousand, two thousand, or more. China was ready to support them and provide every convenience.”

Sihanouk said: “Your assistance was truly selfless. The Cambodian people will never forget you.”

Mao said: “If you stood firm and dealt with both the United States and the Soviet Union, you would have more bargaining chips. That would benefit both you and me.”

Sihanouk continued: “After Lon Nol’s coup, he pursued harsh anti-Vietnamese policies. Ethnic Vietnamese residents in Cambodia were persecuted, expelled, even massacred. He also allowed U.S. and South Vietnamese forces to enter Cambodia under the pretext of pursuing the Viet Cong. American bombing expanded across the entire country. In just a year and a half, hundreds of thousands of peasants were killed, and two million refugees were created. Rural areas were devastated. Cambodia, once a rice exporter, became a rice importer. Instability created favorable conditions for the Khmer Rouge.”

Mao said: “Yes. The heavy U.S. bombing forced the people into rebellion.”

Sihanouk said: “In March 1970, uprisings broke out in Kampong Cham in my support, but they were suppressed by force. It was said that twenty or thirty thousand peasants were influenced by communism. Soon three more provinces erupted. Although I disliked Pol Pot, whom I had once suppressed, under persuasion from you, Zhou Enlai, and Kim Il-sung, I eventually formed a united front with him.”

Mao asked: “Did the united front prove effective?”

Sihanouk replied: “Yes. It greatly increased Khmer Rouge recruitment in rural areas. Many peasant soldiers joined not for communism but to defend their king. I, too, was determined to secure Cambodia’s independence—even if it became a communist country. Unfortunately, though I was nominally the leader of the united front, they aimed to abolish feudalism entirely. Our political visions were fundamentally incompatible. Tension existed from the very beginning.”

Mao said: “You are right. That was probably unavoidable. I tried to reconcile you, though abolishing feudalism is the ultimate goal of communism.”

Sihanouk continued: “In 1975, the Khmer Rouge captured the entire country. The Lon Nol regime collapsed. As head of state, I declared the establishment of Democratic Kampuchea and returned from Pyongyang via Beijing. On the surface I was the top leader, but I had no real power. Aside from state-arranged visits, I was under house arrest in the royal palace. Only my sixth wife, Queen Monique, two princes, and a few loyal attendants were allowed to stay with me.

“In 1976, the Khmer Rouge abolished currency, expelled all urban residents to the countryside, forced collective farming, and massacred intellectuals. During Pol Pot’s three years and eight months in power, over one-fifth of the population died from famine, forced labor, disease, or persecution—one of the bloodiest humanitarian disasters of the twentieth century. Most royal family members were exiled to the countryside. Five of my sons and fourteen grandchildren were killed. At one point I myself was in danger, spared only because you and the Chinese government pressured Pol Pot. Later I requested medical treatment abroad but was refused. In April 1976, I was forced to resign as head of state and was confined to the palace.”

Mao said: “Pol Pot went too far. We had to pressure him. He was my good student; he had to give me some face.”

Sihanouk said: “In January 1979, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and approached Phnom Penh. Pol Pot sought me again and asked me to go to the United Nations to denounce Vietnam’s invasion. Thus I finally left Cambodia with my family. Vietnam installed a puppet government in Phnom Penh. For more than a decade afterward, I led a government-in-exile and also accepted U.S. assistance.”

Mao said: “You had another chance to come to Beijing in exile. By then Zhou Enlai and I were gone. Did Deng Xiaoping continue to help you?”

Sihanouk replied: “Yes. Deng Xiaoping continued full support for my government-in-exile, just as you had—providing everything I needed, even covering travel and leisure. His generosity lasted until January 1989, when Vietnam withdrew from Cambodia. In 1991, after the Cold War ended, Cambodia abandoned one-party rule and Marxism-Leninism. In 1993, under United Nations supervision, elections were held. My son Norodom Ranariddh’s party became the largest party and formed a coalition government. A new constitution restored the constitutional monarchy, and I returned as king.

“In 1997 Pol Pot was arrested; in 1998 he died. The Khmer Rouge crimes were tried, and by 1999 the organization dissolved. Cambodia gradually stabilized. However, I spent much of my time hospitalized in Beijing. In 2004 I abdicated again in old age, and Prince Norodom Sihamoni succeeded me. I traveled between China and Cambodia for medical treatment until I passed away in Beijing on October 15, 2012.”

Mao said: “You lived to ninety—longer than I did!”

Sihanouk replied: “Thanks to you and the Chinese government for giving me such good living conditions and medical care.”

Mao said: “Cambodia ultimately achieved independence among great powers and neighboring states, as you wished. You were a king with a Buddhist heart, inclined toward socialism for the people, cultured, flexible, beloved by the people—a true model. I am proud to have you as an old friend.”

Sihanouk said: “Thank you for your care for me and for Cambodia. Even today, the Chinese government continues to give Cambodia great assistance. I am deeply grateful.”

Seeing that the conversation had run its course, Sihanouk rose, fearing to disturb Mao’s rest. Mao escorted the king to the door. They shook hands in farewell as Sihanouk gradually faded away.

That night, Mao had met his cherished old friend, reminisced freely, and fulfilled his wish.

NEXT: 17. Pol Pot (1925–1998)