In September 1978, Pol Pot began increasingly courting Sihanouk in the hope that the latter could prove a rallying point in support of the Khmer Rouge government. That same month, Pol Pot flew to China to meet with Deng. Deng condemned Vietnamese aggression but suggested that the Khmer Rouge had precipitated the conflict by being too radical in its policies and by allowing Cambodian troops to behave anarchically along the border with Vietnam. On returning to Cambodia, in October Pol Pot ordered the country's army to switch tactics, adopting a defensive strategy involving the heavy use of land mines to stop Vietnamese incursions. He also cautioned the army to avoid direct confrontations which would incur heavy losses and instead adopt guerrilla tactics. In November 1978, the CPK held its Fifth Congress. Here, Mok was appointed the third ranked figure in the government, behind Pol Pot and Nuon Chea. Soon after the Congress, two senior government members—Vorn Vet and Kong Sophal—were arrested and sent to S-21. This precipitated another round of purges.
in september 1978 pol pot began increasingly courting sihanouk in the hope that the latter could prove a rallying point in support of the khmer rouge government that same month pol pot flew to china to meet with deng deng condemned vietnamese aggression but suggested that the khmer rouge had precipitated the conflict by being too radical in its policies and by allowing cambodian troops to behave anarchically along the border with vietnam on returning to cambodia in october pol pot ordered the country's army to switch tactics adopting a defensive strategy involving the heavy use of land mines to stop vietnamese incursions he also cautioned the army to avoid direct confrontations which would incur heavy losses and instead adopt guerrilla tactics in november 1978 the cpk held its fifth congress here mok was appointed the third ranked figure in the government behind pol pot and nuon chea soon after the congress two senior government members—vorn vet and kong sophal—were arrested and sent to s-21 this precipitated another round of purges