China Urges Cambodia to Protect Citizens Fleeing Vietnam

[geovalin]

The Chinese Embassy on Friday delivered a letter to the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling on authorities to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens fleeing violence in Vietnam.

Anti-Chinese demonstrations over the South China Sea turned deadly in Vietnam this week, pushing as many as 1,000 Chinese into Cambodia, where they are seeking safety.

Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Cambodia is already protecting those fleeing.

“As a matter of fact we have paid attention to Chinese people who have fled to Cambodia from Vietnam. We have facilitated their entry based on humanitarian principle," said Kuong.

In Phnom Penh Friday, a Chinese man who did not wish to be identified expressed relief that he was able to leave Vietnam.

" because they were anti-Chinese. Mainly, they are anti-Chinese and are not friendly to Chinese people," he said.

Keat Chantharith, a spokesman for Cambodia's national police, said Chinese citizens are safe in hotels and guesthouses in Phnom Penh, where police are keeping an eye on them.

This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Khmer service.

http://www.voanews.com/content/china-urges-cambodia-to-protect-citizens-fleeing-vietnam-/1916345.html

[Sheryl]

Now this is going to be interesting given how beholden the ruling regime is to both VN and China.....

Hun Sen cannot afford to alienate either one.

[Tomtomtom69]

“As a matter of fact we have paid attention to Chinese people who have fled to Cambodia from Vietnam. We have facilitated their entry based on humanitarian principle," said Kuong.

As Chinese citizens can already enter Cambodia with a VOA, it's not like they were any less welcome in the past. The Cambodian government is more than happy to accept 1000x$20 for the visa on arrival fee for each of these 1000 people so that makes $20,000 and is surely happy to accept many more people fleeing Vietnam.