A Change of Guard

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Wednesday 15 July 2015

The Cambodia That Can Say No

Khmer Times/James Brooke

Tuesday, 14 July 2015
300 views

PHNOM PENH (Khmer Times) – This week, Cambodia’s government ignored pressure from Europe and the United States and passed the NGO law.

Last week, Cambodia stood up to Vietnam over their un-demarcated land border.

What’s happening?

One quarter century ago, two Japanese thinkers wrote an influential essay: “The Japan that Can Say No.” They argued that, based on Japan’s growing economic might, it could take a more independent stance from the United States. (Note: Japan’s economy started to stagnate the next year.)

So what is behind, Cambodia’s new found autonomy?

Military Delegation to China

A hint can be found in the high level Cambodian military delegation that on Monday wrapped up a five day visit to Beijing.​Although spokesmen from both governments assured reporters that it was a routine, annual visit, two things stand out.

First, it was big – 24 Cambodians.

Second, it was top level. In addition, to Defense Minister Tea Banh, the delegation included commanders of the three branches of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – as well as the commander of the National Military Police.

Vietnam On the Agenda?

“The trip comes just days after violent border clashes between Cambodia and Vietnam at the end of June in disputed territory reignited concerns over sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Prashanth Parameswaran, Washington-based editor of The Diplomat, wrote in the Tokyo-based online news magazine. “Given these developments, Cambodia’s dispatch of a high-powered delegation to China has understandably turned heads.”

China long ago displaced Vietnam as Cambodia’s top military aid supplier. In this field, other powers, such as the United States, Indonesia, and Malaysia have been relegated to peripheral roles. (see related story in Nation: China Gives Cars, Phones to Foreign Ministry)


Reflecting China’s tight links with Cambodia’s military, Li Ningya, military attache of the China’s Embassy here, lectured on July 3 to more than 500 Cambodian military lecturers and cadets at the National Defense University. The topic: Beijing’s new, 9,000-word white paper on China’s military strategy.

Cambodia-China: Mutual Defense?

During last week’s visit to Beijing by Cambodia’s top military leadership, the two sides pledged to “continue supporting each other on major issues regarding core interests.”
The key phrase is “each other.”

China has territorial disputes in the South China Sea with Vietnam and four other Asean nations: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Inside Asean, Cambodia consistently argues that these disputes are bilateral issues and should not be handled by the 10-member group.

From the Vietnamese point of view, picking a fight with Cambodia over a few border ponds now means picking a fight with Cambodia’s new big brother, China. 

After last week’s visit to Washington of the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, one can see two loose alliances forming: Cambodia-China facing Vietnam- United States.

To some degree, this explains Cambodia’s new willingness to slap back at perceived slights from Washington.

The Trap of Taking Sides

But, some analysts warn, Cambodia should be wary about getting pulled into alliances.

That is the thesis of a new book by Ek Madra, a veteran Cambodian journalist: “The Factors Contributing to Cambodia’s Civil War: 1950s-1980s.” 

“Cambodians played the Chinese card, the Russian card, the American card, the North Vietnamese card, the Thai card,” he said in an interview, referring to recent history. “But we need to play as many cards as possible for survival.”

“Now, Cambodia is playing several cards – the Chinese card, American card, EU card, and regional power card,” he said. “We play several cards for our own survival. Because, we learned through history: if you are going to drop us in the middle of the road, we have to have another card to play.”

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cambodia must build good relationship and friendship with China to kick Yuon out of cambodia. China Cambodia friendship remain for thousand years since the angkor era!!!

Anonymous said...

Begin of Drgunzet's comment.

See? Khmer are treacherous kind. Just deport more Khmers from America to Cambodia or China. They are useless anyway.

-Drgunzet-

Anonymous said...

You are pathetic DrGunzet ... your comments sound deeply in distress . Are you male or female? You are whining on and on about Cambodians. Sounds like you have personal revenge. Were you once experiencing a broken heart by a beautiful Cambodian lady or gentleman?

Anonymous said...

This drug-on-shit youn is neither male or female. It is lusting after the Khmers' balls, but no one gives it a second look.

Sincerely,
STUPID youn...

Anonymous said...

Dear Khmer and foreign readers:

Drgunzet is a Vietnamese/Yuon spammer or troller based in Boise, Idaho.

This Yuon/Vietnamese troublemaker have created messes and messed up with everyone on the internet forum.

This Vietnamese poster has tried too hard to protect his Vietnamese/Yuon from having bad reputation, being embarrassed, being called nation of thieves (who took land from China "North Vietnam", Champa "Central Vietnam" and Cambodia/Khmer Kampuchea Krom "Southern Vietnam"), and being called a manipulators (lobbyists) at the UN to make a fool and confusion, and beyond until today.

Khmer Yeourng