Singapore's Straits Times website published an article titled "When China's Relationship with Cambodia Comes into Play" on January 17, written by Tam Wai Yee. The full text is excerpted below:
When smaller countries are caught up in an intensifying U.S.-China confrontation, they tend to try to maintain a flat posture, regardless of which side they prefer. But in Southeast Asia, Cambodia is an exception. Its relationship with Beijing has been sunny, while its relationship with the United States has been stormy.
In recent Cambodia-U.S. relations, no issue has been more intractable than the issue of the Naval Base in Yunyang. This strategic facility in the Gulf of Thailand has been at the center of the dispute. Cambodia demolished U.S.-funded buildings in Yunnan— the Cambodian Naval Tactical Headquarters facility and the inflatable boat maintenance facility.
As Washington stepped up its support for the Indo-Pacific security program, U.S. attention to cloud soil continued unabated. In November 2021, the United States imposed sanctions on Cambodian Navy Commander Ong Sam Khan and senior defense ministry officials on suspicion of conspiring to profit from construction work at the Yun loam facility. In December 2021, the United States announced an arms embargo on Cambodia and restricted the export of sensitive materials to Cambodia.
While Washington attributes these actions to cambodian official corruption, among other things, it is clear that the United States is more worried about China's presence.
Astrid Noren-Nelson of Lund University in Sweden said: "U.S.-Cambodia relations have spiraled downward. ”
The United States also announced in November 2021 that it was reassessing the tax-free treatment it offered to Cambodian goods under its GSP. At the same time, the United States cautioned its companies to pay attention to cambodia's so-called "systemic corruption, transnational organized crime and 'human rights violations'".
"Hun Sen and his cronies basically see these measures as different forms of political interference, especially since the main chip in the hands of the United States is the GSP treatment," Noren-Nielsen said. If this treatment is really to be modified, then the United States will once again push Hun Sen further into China. ”
China and Cambodia use the term "as strong as steel" to describe their relationship. In 2020, China accounted for 51% of Cambodia's total foreign investment.
Cambodian officials stressed that Phnom Penh continued to receive assistance from countries such as Japan and South Korea, which may not be so conspicuous. Cambodia has signed a free trade agreement with South Korea alongside a free trade agreement with China and sought similar agreements with Japan and Russia.
Cambodia will hold the ASEAN presidency this year. Cambodia last held the ASEAN presidency in 2012, when ASEAN did not issue a joint communiqué on foreign ministers' meetings. At the time, Cambodia insisted that the South China Sea issue not be mentioned in the joint communiqué. This position is consistent with China's position.
Source: Reference News Network
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