Why is a Big Cambodia Military Delegation in China?

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Why is a Big Cambodia Military Delegation in China?

By Prashanth Parameswaran

On July 8, Defense Minister Tea Banh left Cambodia with a large, high-powered delegation of 23 high-ranking military and security officials for a five-day trip to China.

While both sides have insisted that the visit is a routine one, recent events, as well as the specifics of the visit, have led it to get significantly more attention than it otherwise would.

Cambodian and Chinese officials have been bending over backwards to describe the visit as a routine one.

On the Cambodian side, a military spokesman told reporters it was “just an annual exchange visit,” and Defense Minister Banh himself told The Cambodia Daily that the visit was “nothing big.”

On the Chinese side, reports said very little about the agenda except that it was designed to “further enhance bilateral ties and cooperation,” with Banh meeting military leaders and visiting some key institutions of China’s Ministry of Defense.

For some, this is hard to believe....

Read more: http://thediplomat.com/2015/07/why-is-a-big-cambodia-military-delegation-in-china/

[Emster23]

Does Thailand think their new sweet heart is cheating on them? Why wouldn't Cambodia send a contingent to China? They are the 500 pound gorilla in the neighborhood last time I looked. Maybe this "non news" is attempt to get people on band wagon for those subs?

[oneday]

Because they see Thailand brown-nosing China and they want to get in bed with China also.

[CrummyJuggler]

For a handout.

[gchurch259]

China wants to export more than goods to Cambodia and Thailand, I believe they want to export the Red Flag and Communism as well !!

[Mot Dang]

They are all vying for China's attention. They all want to be on China's side for a game of back-ally cricket, whatever. And probably selling their souls to do it. China is the big boy on the block now.

Just as Russia fell on it's a*se, China could be very much be the next candidate. Just how much more propping up will remain effective ?

[IAMHERE]

Probably about time Cambo starts improving their anti-submarine warfare abilities.

[wwest5829]

Does Thailand think their new sweet heart is cheating on them? Why wouldn't Cambodia send a contingent to China? They are the 500 pound gorilla in the neighborhood last time I looked. Maybe this "non news" is attempt to get people on band wagon for those subs?

That was the first thing to my mind. Special price on subs this week. If Cambodia opts for one that will reinforce the need for Thailand to have theirs.