Cambodia has seen many high-profile visits from the Chinese leaders, with the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on 21st December, 2009, seen here toasting with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (R).Friday, 02 December 2011
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC
Cambodia has increasingly turned to China for economic and political support, US analysts say.
Richard Solomon, a former US ambassador and assistant secretary of state, told an audience when he was one of the panelists at Berkley University in California that under Prime Minister Hun Sen Cambodia has become increasingly reliant on its relationship with China.
Cambodia has increasingly turned to China for economic and political support, US analysts say.
Richard Solomon, a former US ambassador and assistant secretary of state, told an audience when he was one of the panelists at Berkley University in California that under Prime Minister Hun Sen Cambodia has become increasingly reliant on its relationship with China.
“So what will Hun Sen’s government do?” said Solomon, who is the president of the United States Institute for Peace. “They are primarily relying on the relationship with China for their economic development, and, I would assume, also for protection against pressures from Vietnam. If there’s any country that could put pressure on Vietnam these days in support of the Hun Sen government, it’s China.”
The recent development is a product of a long-standing Cambodian strategy, he said.
“Cambodia over the centuries has tried to maintain is independence and survival by maneuvering in this very complicated international environment,” he said.
That balance has proven difficult at times. Many Cambodians harbor resentment for a decade-long occupation that came after the Vietnamese ousted the Khmer Rouge. Cambodian farmers along the border have long complained of border encroachment by the Vietnamese, and critics of the government say it is too far under the sway of the eastern neighbor.
On the other hand, China supported the Khmer Rouge, who based their ideology on extreme Maoist principles. It has now become one of the largest donors to Cambodia, providing around $1 billion in aid last year. With that money, Cambodia has been able to build bridges, roads and other infrastructure, with fewer demands compared to Western aid, which can come with conditions.
“But China is not there as the great charity,” said Joel Brinkley, author of “Cambodia’s Curse.” “It wants something in return.”
China remains hungry for resources, and in Cambodia that means offshore oil and minerals.
Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the Chinese aid does not come with requirements for human rights, democracy or the rule of law. This can make it harder for other donors to exert influence over the country, he said.
“I still believe that the Cambodian government does not want to depend only on China,” he said. “The Cambodian people do not want that. They do not want to have only one country that they depend on.”
Nguon Nhel, vice president of the National Assembly and a senior member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, declined to elaborate of the relationship, but he said Cambodia has worked to reintegrate with the world following the Khmer Rouge.
The recent development is a product of a long-standing Cambodian strategy, he said.
“Cambodia over the centuries has tried to maintain is independence and survival by maneuvering in this very complicated international environment,” he said.
That balance has proven difficult at times. Many Cambodians harbor resentment for a decade-long occupation that came after the Vietnamese ousted the Khmer Rouge. Cambodian farmers along the border have long complained of border encroachment by the Vietnamese, and critics of the government say it is too far under the sway of the eastern neighbor.
On the other hand, China supported the Khmer Rouge, who based their ideology on extreme Maoist principles. It has now become one of the largest donors to Cambodia, providing around $1 billion in aid last year. With that money, Cambodia has been able to build bridges, roads and other infrastructure, with fewer demands compared to Western aid, which can come with conditions.
“But China is not there as the great charity,” said Joel Brinkley, author of “Cambodia’s Curse.” “It wants something in return.”
China remains hungry for resources, and in Cambodia that means offshore oil and minerals.
Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch, said the Chinese aid does not come with requirements for human rights, democracy or the rule of law. This can make it harder for other donors to exert influence over the country, he said.
“I still believe that the Cambodian government does not want to depend only on China,” he said. “The Cambodian people do not want that. They do not want to have only one country that they depend on.”
Nguon Nhel, vice president of the National Assembly and a senior member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, declined to elaborate of the relationship, but he said Cambodia has worked to reintegrate with the world following the Khmer Rouge.
8 comments:
Cambodian golden dragon...
PM suffocated under Vietnamese, too many condition, too many supervision and control. on the other hand Chinese give hope and fresh air to PM but both of them are dangerous instint.
Khmer proverb: "go into the water is croc and on land is tiger go in forest is thorn and go in market is police". Depend on Viet, Thai, USA and Chinese there are 2 1/2 million Khmer perished.
What can we do? well less dependant on foreigner and how ? well you figure out.
Get help without condition no way, like Tibet and others 4 autonomous region of China that Chinese took during world war II, those people now living under Chinese oppresion, torture and less develop. Uighurs refugee in Cambodia as an example, over million of Tibet refugees in India as second example.
Very scary if Cambodia fall the same as Tibet or others autonomous region of China.
Thanks to Khmer ancesters who fought for our independence and existence
Remember the Khmer Rouge period when Cambodia was heavily dependent on China and 2 million Khmers were killed. Also remember China is a communist country so to depend on China too much would slow down the democratic progress. Business? Only the rich benefits, but Cambodia in general did not gain much from trades with China because we imported about $846.45 million worth of goods from China but only exported about $66.31 million worth of goods to China. On the other hand, Cambodia exported garment to America worth about $3 billion, but only imported a few million dollars from America. So, which country is more important to Cambodia in term of trade, China or America? About investment, China only invested in forests (cutting trees), mining and dams (destroying environment), agriculture (land grabbing). So, China's investments are also bad for Cambodia and the Cambodian people.
Why China? Why not USA? You rather choose Communist country? Did you know that Chinese willing to pay thousands of dollars to get into USA? I don't understand the logic. Everybody loves USA and wanted to live in USA and Cambodia turns to China instead.. We are walking backward. Ask the Chinese people in China. Where they prefer to live? The answer probably shock you to death. There is nothing better than America. Wake up Cambodia leaders. Don't be fooled.
Vietnam and China are the same, they want to suck you dry and leave you barren. If you want to balance out the influence, you must go for America. China is America's enemy and vice versa. If you are with China, you're not the enemy of an enemy of USA. We are double exploited, and both Vietnam and China will tear us apart even faster.
The US don't seem to care about cambodia as much as china that is part of the reason why cambodia is turning to china and the other part of the reason is that with china, the ruling party can stay in power for ever and power can be pass on to family member(s). The chinese dont care about human right abuse in cambodia either, and china also give more money to cambodia than the US.
1:55 PM, you are wrong and 10:05 PM is right. The U.S gave Cambodia $330 million in aids since 2003, about $43 million a year, but how much did China give? All Chinese money to build roads, bridges and other infrastructure are not grants/aids, they are loans that need to be repaid.
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