In reversal, Cambodia's Hun Sen offers U.S. new 'bond of friendship'

[geovalin]

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia’s authoritarian leader Hun Sen has offered to renew friendship with the United States after receiving a letter from President Donald Trump, a turnaround in relations with the country he once accused of conspiring to overthrow him.

 

A letter dated Nov. 26 from Hun Sen to Trump thanked him for assurances that Washington was not seeking “regime change” in Cambodia.

Both countries foreign affairs teams should now work “to restore trust and confidence, and renew the bond of friendship between our two countries and peoples”, he added in the letter seen by Reuters.

 

The rapprochement comes after Cambodia, one of China’s closest allies in Asia, had threatened to turn its back on both the United States and the European Union (EU) over their criticism of political repression.

 

Less than four months ago, a Cambodian official said U.S. diplomats should “pack up and leave” after a U.S. embassy statement that the 2018 election did not reflect the will of the people.

 

Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CCP) won all 125 parliamentary seats in the election after the Supreme Court disbanded the main opposition party.

 

The opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party was accused of plotting to take power with U.S. help, and its leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested on treason charges.

 

Kem Sokha was released from house arrest earlier this month, though the treason charges remain, as the EU moved closer to cutting off preferential trade status over human rights, though a final decision is months away.

 

Hun Sen’s letter followed one from Trump seeking to improve ties but also urging him to put Cambodia back on a democratic path.

The Cambodian leader, in power for more than three decades, acknowledged tumultuous periods in U.S. relations.

 

“However, I am of the view that we should not become hostage of a few dark chapters in our history,” he wrote. “There are so many other beautiful chapters that are worth nourishing for the greater good of both our countries and people.”

 

Hun Sen referred to U.S. support for nation building after decades of civil war that ended in the 1990s and “generous market access”.

“I am indeed thankful and truly appreciate these magnanimous gestures,” the letter read.

 

Writing by Kay Johnson; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne

 

-- REUTERS

[mokwit]

Oh dear, looks like China dropped the velvet gloves and smile masks and got down to what they really expect from vassal states.

[Srikcir]

Trump likes real estate deals. Offer the US a naval base.

[Benmart]

38 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Trump likes real estate deals. Offer the US a naval base.

Every President of the United States during my lifetime has made "real estate deals" as you put it. China, on the other hand, has made "real estate deals" where the other party becomes an insignificant "renter" in their own country. Tibet comes to mind. Perhaps a US Naval presence in Cambodia, such as it has in Singapore, wouldn't be a bad deal.

[Redline]

Trump loves all authoritarian leaders 

[IAMHERE]

31 minutes ago, Redline said:

Trump loves all authoritarian leaders 

China reacted furiously to President Donald Trump’s signing of two bills on Hong Kong human rights and said the U.S. will bear the unspecified consequences.

[phycokiller]

those beautiful chapters when I was able to transfer millions of US$ to my off shore accounts

[Redline]

9 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

China reacted furiously to President Donald Trump’s signing of two bills on Hong Kong human rights and said the U.S. will bear the unspecified consequences.

A couple of days ago Xi was his buddy.  Trump had no choice but it to sign the bill-he was overridden 

I agree with his confrontation with China, although his strategy is flawed

[phycokiller]

37 minutes ago, Redline said:

A couple of days ago Xi was his buddy.  Trump had no choice but it to sign the bill-he was overridden 

I agree with his confrontation with China, although his strategy is flawed

why wouldnt they? the tariffs are very damaging to the US economy. farmer bailouts alone let alone the impact on the overall economy

[yellowboat]

HS is an obvious, shameless opportunist.    He got the Vietnamese to invade, he is getting infrastructure and money from the Chinese.  Now he is "allowing" the US to elbow its way to the table.  There is Taiwanese money there too. 

 

He is funny.  The Royal Group, his company, owns other companies that struggle competing with other firms.   He does not seem to intervene unfairly on behalf of his companies from what I have seen.  He is corrupt and fair? 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

Trump likes real estate deals. Offer the US a naval base.

Too late China got in first.

[phycokiller]

22 hours ago, yellowboat said:

HS is an obvious, shameless opportunist.    He got the Vietnamese to invade, he is getting infrastructure and money from the Chinese.  Now he is "allowing" the US to elbow its way to the table.  There is Taiwanese money there too. 

 

He is funny.  The Royal Group, his company, owns other companies that struggle competing with other firms.   He does not seem to intervene unfairly on behalf of his companies from what I have seen.  He is corrupt and fair? 

Im not sure casinos count as infrastructure, its mostly Japan that provides the water and sewers I think