and Pol Pot utilized this grievance in order to spread Cambodian irredentism. Currently, Cambodian irredentists still feel strongly attached to the region, and as a result, they believe it is a lost territory which should be returned to Cambodia. The expression of this sentiment has frequently ignited various protests, notably the 2013–2014 Cambodian protests, and Vietnam is frequently blamed for all of the turmoil and problems which occur within Cambodia, partly because Hun Sen is closely affiliated with Vietnam. This sentiment has sometimes driven Cambodia to forge close ties with China, a country which Vietnam has a strong feeling of enmity towards due to the fact that it was ruled by China for over one thousand years. In addition to the Mekong Delta, Cambodian nationalists seek to reclaim Phú Quốc, which Cambodians frequently call "Koh Trol", based on their belief that it was part of Cambodian territory before it was annexed by Vietnam, and it often attracts a number of Cambodian celebrities. Thailand While tensions with Thailand are now receiving lesser attention, many Cambodians nonetheless have a long-standing hostility in regard to Thailand, due to the fact that most of Thailand used to be under Khmer control until the rise of the Sukhothai Kingdom, and subsequent conflicts which started the demise of Cambodia as a regional power and repeated Thai occupation of Cambodia. Therefore, a strong anti-Thai sentiment developed in Cambodia as for the result, with many Cambodians believed that many of Thai cultural acquisition today was the work by Khmers, and that Thailand has been trying to steal Cambodian culture and custom. Cambodia and Thailand also engaged in border disputes from 2008 to 2011 with regard to Preah Vihear Temple. Eventually, Cambodia acquired the temple following the dispute. There is also Cambodian nationalist irredentism against Thailand with regard to Northern Khmer people, where Cambodians still see them part of Cambodian nation, and that lower part of northeastern Thailand should have been Cambodian. Laos Cambodian irredentists have objected to the existence of Laos as an independent state and believed that Southern Laos should have been Cambodian territory. This has led to some sporadic tensions from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, Cambodia and Laos removed troops from the disputes area surrounding Stung Treng. See also Khmer nationalism References Cambodia Cambodian irredentism Politics of Cambodia Cambodian nationalism