Complex sentence: Like Thanh, the Thai regime was ready to exploit French weakness in Cambodia: in November 1940, they took control of Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, an action legitimised by the Japanese four months later.
Split into simpler sentences: Like Thanh, the Thai regime was also ready to exploit French weakness in Cambodia. In November 1940, they took control of Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, an action legitimised by the Japanese four months later.