PHNOM PENH —Even as much of the world’s attention focuses on Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain, at least one Asian diplomat believes a new front for global concern is emerging on the Thai-Cambodian border.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Kyodo News in Phnom Penh that four days of heavy artillery salvos across the border that left at least eight dead, almost 100 wounded and tens of thousands of civilians displaced early this month may be the heating-up of an emerging U.S.-China rivalry for influence in Southeast Asia, rather than a simple land dispute between neighboring countries.
On the surface, the dispute near the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Preah Vihear Temple that has been festering since July 2008 is a clash of nationalisms exacerbated by internal politics.
But the diplomat suggested the recent clashes are also a sign the United States may be ‘‘stirring the waters’’ and taking renewed interest in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
‘‘The United States, in recent years, has come to destabilize ASEAN,’’ the diplomat said. ‘‘The U.S. came to divide ASEAN through a new approach by cutting the region apart and that is why the U.S. is choosing close ties with four lower Mekong countries, as well as an expression of interest in the South China Sea and engaging in military exercises in the region.’‘
‘‘The U.S. war game concerning the border conflict is to put pressure on (Cambodian Prime Minister) Hun Sen, to reduce Hun Sen’s power, to get Hun Sen out of China’s firm hold and to force him to turn to the U.S. for help rather than just depending on China alone,’’ he said.
Partly, it seems, the diplomat’s view has been somewhat colored by a recent visit to Cambodia by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who told Cambodian students in November their country’s leaders should seek balance in international relations.
‘‘You look for balance. You don’t want to get too dependent on any one country. You want to be able to have partnerships that cut across regional geographic lines,’’ she said.
Some, it seems, see her stressing of ‘‘balance’’ as having an undertone of pressing Cambodia to become less reliant on China and on ASEAN.
Others suggest the longstanding U.S. relationship with Thailand means it is on one side in the region, China is on the other and ASEAN is being shown to be an ineffectual pawn somewhere in the middle.
Chea Vannath, an independent analyst in Phnom Penh, said the conflict between the two ASEAN members cannot help but have serious impact on the association.
‘‘It shows that ASEAN is not mature enough to solve the issue in a more civilized manner. ASEAN needs to have another principle—motto—about the ‘ballot’ and not the ‘bullet.’ To put down the gun, take up the Dharma,’’ she said.
And Chheang Vannarith, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for International Cooperation, said ASEAN’s image has already been damaged by the border war.
‘‘It demonstrates the limitations of ASEAN in dealing with regional conflict. However, it is also an opportunity for ASEAN to reflect and rethink about creating an effective conflict resolution mechanism which gives a breakthrough for future development. ASEAN needs to create ASEAN peace keeping forces ready to cooperate with the U.N. and ready to deploy to prevent war and conflict. It is a significant turning point for ASEAN. All ASEAN members should move forward with this,’’ he said.
One question is, however, is ASEAN able to act effectively at all with China and the United States somewhere in the shadows?
Several analysts say the dispute is local—Thailand using Preah Vihear to get voter support, stir up the spirit of nationalism and show off Thai military supremacy while Cambodia is showing off an upgraded military able to counter attacks, stirring up solidarity with the ruling party and for the ruling party to be ‘‘recognized as a defender of Cambodian sovereignty and integrity.’‘
Others, such as the Asian diplomat, see more sinister motives.
The latest armed clashes broke out, essentially, over Chinese New Year and while thousands of U.S. troops are engaged in annual military exercises with the Thai military in some areas a just a few hundred kilometers from the border clash point.
The questions in Phnom Penh at least are whose nose is being tweaked and whose might is being showcased?
Next week, the dispute moves to the U.N. Security Council where both China and the United States hold vetoes.
How those two powers react to the Cambodian desire to have international intervention in its dispute with Thailand may offer some indication of whether the Phnom Penh diplomat’s concerns about Chinese-U.S. rivalry emerging in Southeast Asia are prescient, or paranoid.
Their reactions may also offer some indication of how ASEAN will fare Feb. 22 in Jakarta when its foreign ministers meet to discuss the increasingly hostile relations between two of its 10 members.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Kyodo News in Phnom Penh that four days of heavy artillery salvos across the border that left at least eight dead, almost 100 wounded and tens of thousands of civilians displaced early this month may be the heating-up of an emerging U.S.-China rivalry for influence in Southeast Asia, rather than a simple land dispute between neighboring countries.
On the surface, the dispute near the UNESCO-designated World Heritage Preah Vihear Temple that has been festering since July 2008 is a clash of nationalisms exacerbated by internal politics.
But the diplomat suggested the recent clashes are also a sign the United States may be ‘‘stirring the waters’’ and taking renewed interest in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
‘‘The United States, in recent years, has come to destabilize ASEAN,’’ the diplomat said. ‘‘The U.S. came to divide ASEAN through a new approach by cutting the region apart and that is why the U.S. is choosing close ties with four lower Mekong countries, as well as an expression of interest in the South China Sea and engaging in military exercises in the region.’‘
‘‘The U.S. war game concerning the border conflict is to put pressure on (Cambodian Prime Minister) Hun Sen, to reduce Hun Sen’s power, to get Hun Sen out of China’s firm hold and to force him to turn to the U.S. for help rather than just depending on China alone,’’ he said.
Partly, it seems, the diplomat’s view has been somewhat colored by a recent visit to Cambodia by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who told Cambodian students in November their country’s leaders should seek balance in international relations.
‘‘You look for balance. You don’t want to get too dependent on any one country. You want to be able to have partnerships that cut across regional geographic lines,’’ she said.
Some, it seems, see her stressing of ‘‘balance’’ as having an undertone of pressing Cambodia to become less reliant on China and on ASEAN.
Others suggest the longstanding U.S. relationship with Thailand means it is on one side in the region, China is on the other and ASEAN is being shown to be an ineffectual pawn somewhere in the middle.
Chea Vannath, an independent analyst in Phnom Penh, said the conflict between the two ASEAN members cannot help but have serious impact on the association.
‘‘It shows that ASEAN is not mature enough to solve the issue in a more civilized manner. ASEAN needs to have another principle—motto—about the ‘ballot’ and not the ‘bullet.’ To put down the gun, take up the Dharma,’’ she said.
And Chheang Vannarith, executive director of the Cambodian Institute for International Cooperation, said ASEAN’s image has already been damaged by the border war.
‘‘It demonstrates the limitations of ASEAN in dealing with regional conflict. However, it is also an opportunity for ASEAN to reflect and rethink about creating an effective conflict resolution mechanism which gives a breakthrough for future development. ASEAN needs to create ASEAN peace keeping forces ready to cooperate with the U.N. and ready to deploy to prevent war and conflict. It is a significant turning point for ASEAN. All ASEAN members should move forward with this,’’ he said.
One question is, however, is ASEAN able to act effectively at all with China and the United States somewhere in the shadows?
Several analysts say the dispute is local—Thailand using Preah Vihear to get voter support, stir up the spirit of nationalism and show off Thai military supremacy while Cambodia is showing off an upgraded military able to counter attacks, stirring up solidarity with the ruling party and for the ruling party to be ‘‘recognized as a defender of Cambodian sovereignty and integrity.’‘
Others, such as the Asian diplomat, see more sinister motives.
The latest armed clashes broke out, essentially, over Chinese New Year and while thousands of U.S. troops are engaged in annual military exercises with the Thai military in some areas a just a few hundred kilometers from the border clash point.
The questions in Phnom Penh at least are whose nose is being tweaked and whose might is being showcased?
Next week, the dispute moves to the U.N. Security Council where both China and the United States hold vetoes.
How those two powers react to the Cambodian desire to have international intervention in its dispute with Thailand may offer some indication of whether the Phnom Penh diplomat’s concerns about Chinese-U.S. rivalry emerging in Southeast Asia are prescient, or paranoid.
Their reactions may also offer some indication of how ASEAN will fare Feb. 22 in Jakarta when its foreign ministers meet to discuss the increasingly hostile relations between two of its 10 members.
6 comments:
Why do Kos Trol, sea and lands proximately over 10 000 km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty? Why don’t Cambodia goverment transparencies explain to Cambodia army at front line and the whole nation about this? Why don't they include this into education system? Why?
Cambodian armies are fighting at front line for 4.6 km2 and what's about over 10 000km2 of Cambodia to Vietnam. Nobody dare to talk about it! Why? Cambodian armies you are decide the fate of your nation, Cambodian army as well as Cambodian people must rethink about this again and again. Is it fair?
Kos Trol, Sea and lands over 10 000km2 have been lost to Vietnam by who treaty at 1979 to 1985 treaty! Treaty! Cambodian army at front line as well as all Cambodian people must rethink again about these issues. Are Cambodian army fighting to protect the Cambodia Nation or protect a very small group that own big lands, big properties or only protecting a small group rather in the real name of protecting Khmer nation?
Cambodian army at front line suffer under rain, wind, bullets, bombs, lack of foods, lack of nutrition, their families have no health care help, no securities after they die but a very small group eat well, sleep well, sleep in first class hotel with air conditioning with young girls message, have super health care from oversea medical treatment, they are billionaires, millionaires who sell out the country to be rich and make Cambodian people suffer everyday as Cambodian people know already.
Who signed the treaty 1979-1985 that result lost over 10 000 km2 of Cambodia??? Why don't they transparency inform all Cambodian and Cambodian army at front line about these issues? Why don't include Kos Trol (Kos Trol size is bigger than the whole Phom Phen with heap of great natural resources) in education system in Cambodia.
Look at Hun Sen families, relatives; friends are billionaires, millionaires where do they get the money from if we all just get out of war with empty hands? Hun Sen always say in his speech Cambodia just get up from war, just get up from Zero with empty hands and how come they are billionaires, millionaires but 90% innocent Cambodian people are so poor struggling with living every day.
Khmer girl Ms. Rattana Keo,
Again Cambodia lift up ASEAN from sleep.
Cambodia should choose China as a partner. America had proven to be ineffective as partner. America had failed to stop the spread of communist in IndoChina through the lost of the Vietnam War, which lead to the rise in power of the Khmer Rouge. China also had its hand dirty by support the creation of the KR. After judging and balancing the wrongs on both America and China, Cambodia would much better relying on China. China is a growing superpower, rival that of America. China played a major role in Cambodia development, while America is more concern about the politic of Demcracy and Human Rights. If America wish to see Cambodia becoming less dependent on China, America should support Cambodia in development and condemn Thailand for its aggression toward Cambodia.
It's a bottom of the problem in the conflict between Cambodia and Thai.
The U.S and China play big role in this conflict. What's so sad is small and weak countries like Cambodia has been hostaged by giant and powerful countries like US and China.
It's a real world we live in. Thai is a puppet of the US. Thai has no desire to make war against Cambodia but political environment in Thai plus the US's motivation, Thai has to stand up agianst its own friends and neighbour. ASEAN has to decide and show solidarity in this manner.
Sould Vietnam, Loa, Burma, and other ASEAN members join force with Cambodis to punish Thai? They should, indeed. It's a legitimate and it also shows soligarity in ASEAN to protect peace in region.
The US will always try stir up trouble for economic reason and their interest around the world. But when it gets too hot to handle the US will abandon the ship and retreat back to their country. The US will leave the world in a big mess after they created. So I think this is what going to happen again pretty soon in Asian country. As far as picking side, Cambodia should balance it out. Why not use the their rich resource to rebuild and stabilize our country and at the same token we don't want to dependent on them either. We need to be on our own feet too and educate our people to run the country.
There shouldn't be any doubt of China playing a major role in Cambodia. Cambodia and China had been allies for over 2,000 years, dating back since the early Funan kingdom in 1st century A.D. Of course, Khmer is no where compare to China nowadays, but back in the old days, Khmer was a worthy oponent of China. Fortunately, these two decided to be friends, instead of enemies. Khmer civilization played a major in southeast Asia, while Chinese civilization played a major role in east Asia. There shouldn't be any surprise of their alliances. Since ancient times, China and Khmer were great partner in trade. There were time when China was down and Khmer was there to helped pick China up, and visa versa.
Regardless how much America wishes to see Cambodia distance herself from China, Cambodia will always have that invisible strong bonds. If Cambodia was clever, she should try to benefit from both of these giants of the east, China and the west, America. It's better to have more friends than a few. Cambodia is making friends with some of the most hated nations in the world, like North Korea and Iran because Cambodia stance itself as a nation of neutrality. In time of needs, more friends is better. America has no right to tell Cambodia who she should be-friends with.
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