Re: America is the big dark demon
Well, America gave most favored nation status to Cambodia, meaning any Cambodian exports to America is taxed at a very low rate or no tax at all. This status has attracted a lot of investors to Cambodia, especially in the textile industry where about over $3 billion of garment products were exported to America. The MFN status has kick-started the Cambodian economy in the 1990s. America offered refuge to over 300,000 Khmer refugees who sent millions of dollars to their relatives in Cambodia every year which helped the Cambodian economy tremendously.
On the other hand, China created the Khmer Rouge and aided and abetted the Khmer rouge to kill over 2 millions Khmers. Cambodia still owed China over $2 billion of debts from the Khmer Rouge period, but no one makes a big noise about that. However, When America asked Cambodia to repay about $300-$400 million debts, Hun Sen and his supporters, including some who live in America, make a big deal about it. America bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trial to stop the Viet Cong and Communist from taking over South Vietnam and Cambodia and people make a big deal about it, but they forgot about the 2 million Khmers killed by the Khmer Rouge, helped by China.
China's aid amounted to not much, but it makes big headlines because of the close relationship Hun Sen has with China's leadership. Last time, China donated 257 military trucks and 50,000 military uniforms, which amounted to only $16 million, but Hun Sen and his supporters made a big deal about it. China's investments, like the construction of hydro-electric dams, rubber plantations, deforestation (logging), mining and construction of Boeung Kak Lake have caused great and irreparable environmental destruction to Cambodia and misery to many Khmer slum-dwellers. Road and bridge constructions carried out by Chinese companies were on loans, not for free, and the young Khmer generations will have to work their butts off to repay these Chinese debts in the future. On the contrary, the Western powers, Japan, France, America, Britain and others, contributed about $1 billion every year to Cambodia's reconstruction, but Hun Sen and his cohorts still attack them for imposing some restrictions for good governance of the aid money. America offered many Cambodians scholarships, China did too, but Hun Sen should be thankful that 2 of his children studied at American universities for free which cost American taxpayers nearly half a million dollars.
China's trades with Cambodia is like a one-way trade, where Cambodia imported a lot of Chinese products but exported very little to China. But America bought over $3 billion of Cambodian garment products from Cambodia, yet exported very little to Cambodia.
So, looking at the comparison above, is America or China that is the big dark demon?
Well, America gave most favored nation status to Cambodia, meaning any Cambodian exports to America is taxed at a very low rate or no tax at all. This status has attracted a lot of investors to Cambodia, especially in the textile industry where about over $3 billion of garment products were exported to America. The MFN status has kick-started the Cambodian economy in the 1990s. America offered refuge to over 300,000 Khmer refugees who sent millions of dollars to their relatives in Cambodia every year which helped the Cambodian economy tremendously.
On the other hand, China created the Khmer Rouge and aided and abetted the Khmer rouge to kill over 2 millions Khmers. Cambodia still owed China over $2 billion of debts from the Khmer Rouge period, but no one makes a big noise about that. However, When America asked Cambodia to repay about $300-$400 million debts, Hun Sen and his supporters, including some who live in America, make a big deal about it. America bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trial to stop the Viet Cong and Communist from taking over South Vietnam and Cambodia and people make a big deal about it, but they forgot about the 2 million Khmers killed by the Khmer Rouge, helped by China.
China's aid amounted to not much, but it makes big headlines because of the close relationship Hun Sen has with China's leadership. Last time, China donated 257 military trucks and 50,000 military uniforms, which amounted to only $16 million, but Hun Sen and his supporters made a big deal about it. China's investments, like the construction of hydro-electric dams, rubber plantations, deforestation (logging), mining and construction of Boeung Kak Lake have caused great and irreparable environmental destruction to Cambodia and misery to many Khmer slum-dwellers. Road and bridge constructions carried out by Chinese companies were on loans, not for free, and the young Khmer generations will have to work their butts off to repay these Chinese debts in the future. On the contrary, the Western powers, Japan, France, America, Britain and others, contributed about $1 billion every year to Cambodia's reconstruction, but Hun Sen and his cohorts still attack them for imposing some restrictions for good governance of the aid money. America offered many Cambodians scholarships, China did too, but Hun Sen should be thankful that 2 of his children studied at American universities for free which cost American taxpayers nearly half a million dollars.
China's trades with Cambodia is like a one-way trade, where Cambodia imported a lot of Chinese products but exported very little to China. But America bought over $3 billion of Cambodian garment products from Cambodia, yet exported very little to Cambodia.
So, looking at the comparison above, is America or China that is the big dark demon?
10 comments:
Let's not forget the whole original point of topic between America and China in the world, not necessarily with Cambodia. I think that was what the orginal author trying to focus. It was about China, South China Sea, those Asian countries that effect by it, and America, not about Cambodia, KR, and 2 millions Khmer died. I don't think America is all that nice and clean either. America is no saint. America is a great hypocrit. Bravo for those that try to see the other side of the story, not just on the side of America.
Well, it's true that it is about China and America in Asia, but most importantly it's about which country is "the big dark demon". Depend on whose side are you on, you will be supporting that side. But it is important to have a neutral and objective people assessing the pros and cons of the two countries. Certainly, most will say China is the big dark demon. American is not an angel either, but it is the less evil of the two.
Gen. Lon Nol regime were backed America and instigated behind the coupe which led to KR took over the country. America was not the only country that took refugees. The world lend their hand to help. Now America has it eyes on spratly islands so it partners with the former enemy Vietnam to confront China. While Khmers were killed by Thai soldier; America closed its eyes during the 80s and currently. I am not saying America is all that bad but I wouldn't put in the innocent corner or the best of all. However, recently America changed its direction to help poor Cambodia with the tax releif on import/export. Only time will tell what America has in stock for Cambodia. Cambodia should be cautious not to forget its history easily. If America comes with sincere efforts; Cambodia should return the favor. However, if China came in with other agenda, Cambodia should recognize it and cut it ties so that it doesnt spread the disease like during KR time.
It's OK for you to hate the US because you got the freedom,the liberty!(you even got the computer, the internet,GPS and smart phone!). The US still want (you and) Khmer society get more things like equal right,justice and decent responsible leadership. I really love the land where I were born from, " Cambodia ", but I will take note of who hate my Beloved USA, my home country now.
Minnesotan.
Don't be delusional 3:27 AM. Don't tell me you feel like home in Minesota. Maybe within your little community but once you step out, you are a stranger in America. Your skin color comes first, not that piece of paper call " Naturalize American". That little title can be taken away anytime and send your ass back to Cambodia anytime the government want. America is not for little yellow people like you, it's founded by the whitemen and will rule by the whitemen. Immigration has poison this country. It wasn't that way before. Now, America is going downhill. Many talltale signs are everywhere.
Cambodia doesn't hate America; Cambodia wanted equally fair treatment from America in term of relationship as other neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand recieved more attention than Cambodia. I realized that Cambodia is a small country and continue to develop economically but Cambodian has the most kind heart, innocent, loyal, and hard working. If you treated them harshly, they will voice their oppinion but they will never hate America or bring harm to American because America has done many positive things to help established Cambodia today. American is the most generose people on earth comparing to other nations. Their volunteer spirit whenever disaster strick; America is always there to lend it hands to help out those that needed help. Cambodian American can participate and voice their concerns about the future of the country without being prejudice due to their background. This is truely democracy. I have voice my oppinion in the past of things America has done indirectly which helped KR gained power and supported them after the KR were outsted by the CPP regime in 1979. The evidence of the bombing is not a secret to the American public any longer since President Clinton released the Air Force data in search for American MIA during the Vietnam War. This is just fact that Cambodian has endured during the Vietnam War. Should America bare some responsibilities? Absolutely, and I don't think America shy to accept its flaw either. Let faces it; China has been embeded in Cambodian culture many centuries before America exist as a nation. It is normal to see China assisting Cambodia and invested in Cambodia. It is part of the negative effect to see people being displaced when there are growth and development in the country. It is called gentrification; because property value goes up and poor people cannot afford to remain in the same area that they used to live, therfore forced to move out because either tax goes up or being bought out. I am not defending some of the projects happening in Cambodia because I am not sure what remedies being used to deal with residents and I am in no position to defend them either. We shouldn't compare if America or China is demon or friend to Cambodia. Both countries has been involved with Cambodia many years. Cambodia needs to honor both relationship and looking for the best interests of Cambodia. I am sure that the government continue to develop its strong relationship with both nations and ensure that it is mutually benefits from the relationship. It is a win win to have both super power invest in Cambodia's future.
WB
This guy is giving misinformation. "Cambodia still owed China over $2 billion of debts from the Khmer Rouge period." This is wrong fact. All debts that Cambodia owned to China during Khmer Rouge Regime had been forgiven, and it is not $2 billion.
5:31 AM, China did not cancel all Cambodia's debt. The original debt was reported to be around $2 billion from the Khmer Rouge era and some from the present government. China has reportedly canceled about $400 million.http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/special-to-the-china-post/2011/03/01/292798/Chinas-growth.htm. In November 2011, Cambodia asked China to cancel another $200 million (http://khmerization.blogspot.com/2010/11/china-cancelled-200-million-debt-owed.html), but China only canceled $4 million only. VOA reported that in 2002, China canceled an undisclosed amount of debt which totaled from $60 million to $1 billion (http://www.voanews.com/khmer-english/news/China-Forgives-4-Million-in-Khmer-Rouge-era-Debt-106686163.html). No one know how much Cambodia still owe China. there were reports that Cambodia originally owed China about $2 billion from the KR period and from the present government, but Hun Sen did not want to disclose it because it is politically damaging to his regime. So far what we hear is a cancelation of debt of $4 million in Nov. 2010 and an undisclosed amount in 2002 out of about $1 billion. On top of this, the former Heng Samrin-Hun Sen regime owed $1.5 billion to the former Soviet Union, which some reports said have already been canceled, others said it is still in negotiation.
Not true! China had forgiven all KR debt. What Cambodia is owned to China today are new debt, not from the KR regime.
look guys, you can stop cursing each other. the bottom line, cambodia is heading toward USA and China will be our friend. PM Hun Sen sent his son to US military school and if you look at today article. Who visit Cambodia? I rest my case.
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