After World War II, several countries in Southeast Asia gained independence from European colonial rule. Some of these countries, such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, were heavily influenced by communism. This was due in part to the fact that these countries had been fighting for their independence against the French, who were seen as allies of the United States and the West. In addition, many of the communist leaders in these countries had been trained in Moscow or Beijing.
The communist influence in Southeast Asia led to a number of conflicts in the region, such as the Vietnam War and the Cambodian Civil War. These conflicts had a devastating impact on the region and resulted in the deaths of millions of people.