The capture of the SS Mayaguez occurred in the context of geopolitical tensions in Southeast Asia following the end of the Vietnam War. The SS Mayaguez, a U.S. merchant vessel, was seized by naval forces of Democratic Kampuchea, led by the Khmer Rouge, near Koh Tang island. The incident was primarily motivated by the Khmer Rouge's desire to assert their sovereignty and engage in aggressive posturing against foreign influences, particularly the United States, which had been heavily involved in Vietnam and Cambodia until the recent withdrawal of American forces. The vessel was carrying goods from Hong Kong to Thailand and its capture was emblematic of the heightened aggressiveness of the new Cambodian government. In response to the seizure, the United States launched a military operation aimed at rescuing the crew, which included ground and aerial assaults targeting both the island and the Khmer Rouge's positions. The conflict escalated quickly, resulting in violent confrontations and casualties. The operation highlighted the tensions between the United States and the Khmer Rouge government, which was already seen as a radical and unpredictable player in the region. The crew of the Mayaguez were eventually rescued in a series of military actions that took place a few days later, but the incident solidified the Khmer Rouge's antagonistic stance toward the U.S. and reinforced their image as a revolutionary government willing to confront foreign powers directly.