The following January, when he was in the Philippines on a state visit, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives attempted to sway him into placing Cambodia under Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) protection.
Pada bulan Januari berikutnya, saat ia berada di Filipina pada sebuah kunjungan negara, para anggota Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) menawarkannya agar Kamboja ditempatkan di bawah perlindungan Pakta Pertahanan Asia Tenggara (SEATO).