China US concerned by China presence in Cambodia, urges 'balanced' policy

[geovalin]

The most senior U.S. official to visit Cambodia in years expressed concern on Tuesday about China's military presence there and sought clarification on the demolition of U.S.-funded buildings, the State Department said.

 

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman urged Cambodia’s leadership to "maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy, in the best interests of the Cambodian people".

 

She met Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled for over 35 years and has become increasingly close to China while Washington has condemned human rights abuses and his demolition of the political opposition.

 

The Pentagon said last year it was worried about reports that the Cambodian Navy tactical headquarters at Ream Naval Base had been demolished and had asked Cambodia for an explanation.

 

The building, roughly 30 metres (100 feet) long, had housed several small patrol boats.

In October, Cambodia said it had razed the building to allow for further expansion and would relocate the demolished facility, denying reports of Chinese involvement.

 

A U.S. State Department spokesman said there was "substantial" publicly available evidence that China was working on a major renovation project at Ream and said "credible reports" suggested this would include an area under its exclusive control.

 

"Deputy Secretary Sherman expressed serious concerns about the PRC's (China's) military presence and construction of facilities at Ream Naval Base," the State Department said in a statement.

 

"She sought clarification on the demolition of two U.S.-funded buildings at Ream without notification or explanation and observed that a PRC military base in Cambodia would undermine its sovereignty, threaten regional security, and negatively impact U.S.-Cambodia relations." China has become an increasingly important economic and political ally for Cambodia.

 

Ties between China and the United States have deteriorated sharply in recent years over issues including human rights, trade and Beijing's military expansion in the South China Sea.

 

Cambodia is strategically situated with a Gulf of Thailand coastline and also belongs to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Washington sees close cooperation with ASEAN as crucial to its efforts to counter Beijing's growing regional influence.

Cambodian government spokesman Phay Siphan urged dialogue.

 

"There are some issues that the United States doesn't understand clearly about Cambodia and that Cambodia does not understand the intentions of the United States," he said.

 

Sherman, who also met opposition leader Kem Sokha, civil society groups and journalists.

Her trip is the first by such a senior U.S. official since well before Kem Sokha's opposition party was banned in 2017. A wider crackdown has targeted activists campaigning about issues such as illegal logging.

Sherman emphasized the importance of human rights and urged Cambodia to abide by international commitments, the State Department said.

 

“We hope this trip is a reminder to the Cambodian regime that the U.S. continues to be vigilant about rights and the destruction of democracy in Cambodia as well as Cambodia’s role in being a responsible actor in the region," said opposition official Monovithya Kem, Kem Sokha's daughter.

 

- -   REUTERS   - -

[JCauto]

Hey! Hun Sen! We ignored your country for years while criticizing you relentlessly abroad and turning a blind eye to China as they built relations and invested more than what we withdrew. Now we finally noticed, so, uh, as we claimed that area with the construction of a small house several years ago, could you kind of give it back to us and ignore those Chinese who have been working closely with you in the meantime? Please? I mean, we demand that you give us back our buildings that you knocked down. Please?

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, geovalin said:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman urged Cambodia’s leadership to "maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy, in the best interests of the Cambodian people".

Dear Wendy, Hun Sen has Hun Sen's interests in mind and not the people's. 

[gearbox]

9 minutes ago, JCauto said:

Hey! Hun Sen! We ignored your country for years while criticizing you relentlessly abroad and turning a blind eye to China as they built relations and invested more than what we withdrew. Now we finally noticed, so, uh, as we claimed that area with the construction of a small house several years ago, could you kind of give it back to us and ignore those Chinese who have been working closely with you in the meantime? Please? I mean, we demand that you give us back our buildings that you knocked down. Please?

 

They are getting a bit desperate and are willing to go in bed with any dictator, as long as he  becomes "our <deleted>" against China.

Just look what happens in Colombia where the American puppet is killing civilian demonstrators in much bigger quantities than Hong Kong. No posing, no sanctions, business as usual.

[holy cow cm]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

Dear Wendy, Hun Sen has Hun Sen's interests in mind and not the people's. 

Deleted. You are correct is a better answer.

Edited June 2, 2021 by holy cow cm

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

Dear Wendy, Hun Sen has Hun Sen's interests in mind and not the people's. 

And he doesn't give a rats about USA.

[Stargeezr]

Cambodia, Chinas newest play ground, and handy to their new military

island.  That's the future folks.  Cambodia , like Myanmar is the 2 Asian countries where I will

never go for a holiday, or hopefully for any other reason.

Geezer

[JohnOFphon]

I didn't know Cambodia had a Navy. Or any real military.

 

[hotchilli]

18 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Cambodia, Chinas newest play ground, and handy to their new military

island.  That's the future folks.  Cambodia , like Myanmar is the 2 Asian countries where I will

never go for a holiday, or hopefully for any other reason.

Geezer

Correct, Cambodia's screwed big-time.

China now controls the economy that's how the Chinese MO works.

Finance infrastructure projects, build factories, employ locals to make your products, initiate a supply chain of materials in, and a shipping exit out.

And then it has complete control of your country.

Take a good look at Sri Lanka and PNG as another two who fell for the same trick.
 

[Excel]

Must be time for the US  to get the Agent Orange readied again so they can lose another war.