Cambodian army soldiers stand in front of Chinese military vehicles before a hand over ceremony at Cambodia's military air base in Phnom Penh, on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)Phnom Penh Wednesday, 23 June 2010
“I believe our Cambodian friends will be able to use these trucks for the interest of economic and social development.” (sic!)China on Tuesday delivered a military aid package that included 257 vehicles to replace a distribution the US canceled after an expulsion of Uighur asylum seekers last year. Officials said the aid delivery was a routine part of bilateral ties between the two countries.
Among the delivery were 200 transport trucks, 30 cars for commanders, 20 military ambulances, five mechanic’s vehicles and two trucks for the transport of heavy armor.
“I believe our Cambodian friends will be able to use these trucks for the interest of economic and social development,” said Chi Wanchun, political commissar of the general armaments department of the People’s Liberation Army, who is on an official visit to Cambodia.
Moeun Samphan, secretary of state for the Cambodian Ministry of Defense, said at a handover ceremony the trucks would be used for “the army and for national defense.”
The delivery was announced earlier this year, after the US suspended the delivery of some 200 military vehicles in response to the December deportation of 20 Uighur Muslim asylum seekers, who had fled their home province on Xinjiang after waves of violence there last year.
Moeun Samphan declined to comment on the halt of US trucks, but said Cambodia needed the vehicles.
Tuesday’s delivery was part of an increase in military aid from China, at a time when Cambodia and Thailand are engaged in a protracted military standoff at the border near Preah Vihear temple. Earlier this year Cambodia test-fired a battery of short-range missiles, many on trucks brought from China.
Some observers have warned that China’s aid, which comes without some of the human rights benchmarks often attached to Western packages, could come at a price.
“We welcome aid without conditions from all countries, but the government must be balanced between the aid and respect for human rights,“ from Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Koul Panha, executive director of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections, said the government does need military aid, especially in the dispute with Thailand, but it also needs aid for infrastructure, investment and economic development.
17 comments:
We thanked our camrad Chinese government for their support.
These trucks may be used to help Thaksin to attack Abhisit.
Vietnam has to decide which side she will be working with.
Working with China in exchange to stay in Cambodia or working with the US to take Cambodia or join China as her new province?
These trucks can be used for loading the pigs and transport timber from Cambodia to srok youn.
Why can China teaching Khmer how to build nuclear bombs instead of giving us the trucks. So we can trop on ah Youn VietCong let them vanish out from ESA.
1;58pm.
Your question show clearly that you are so innocence or so naive.
If China helps Cambodia to build a nuclear weapon, it'd be more dangerous than Kim Jung Il, because Hun Sen and Kim Jung Il are not far from each others the way the two behave. When the nuclear weapon fall into the hand of evil men like Hun Sen, Kim Jung Il, everyone must pray.
These trucks may be using to help Thaksin. I don't think Viets dare to use Chian's gifts to transport anything.
Look like wonderful vehicles in which to transport pigs from Thailand and Vietnam and lumber to Vietnam and Mong Rethy's secret port facility for shipment to Malaysia. Hun Mana, the PM's daughter runs all these rackets now, so she'll just keep them at her property to ensure best use.
I remember talking to a policeman a few years ago who was very proud about the fact that they'd been given posh, new police motorbikes from the Chinese government.
However, he then mentioned that they were unable to fix them as they were chinese so they didn't have the parts available here. They also lacked the budget to fix them, so ultimately the bixes would have been ridden into the ground or never ridden and kept for show and important occasions.
I wonder if this 'gift' from the Chinese comes with a truckload of mechanics and a shipload of spare parts?? But then the military budget has been increased. So, that's alright then.
AMAZING PICTURE!!! CHINA PUT THE US TO SHAME!! LOL
China's growing influence in Cambodia since the time of Nokor Phnom to now...
China's aid to Cambodia is always welcomed and the people of Cambodia are grateful...
While the US won't forgive Cambodia's $300 million debt from the Lon Nol era...considering 2.5 million tons of american bombs dropped over Cambodia during the Vietnam War...more than all of the bombs dropped in Europe during WWII
Over half a million Khmer people died from American bombings!
Where is justice for Khmer people? Where is the US compensation for that?
Hun Sen can use these trucks to transport lumber to Thailand and Vietnam...to increase his personal wealth...
6:39pm, well said. couldn't have said it any better.
Huynh Xanh OWNED the country!
Nice.
Big thanks to President Hu.
PS: We also need tanks!!!
In 1970 Cambodia received 200 trucks from Australia, for the Cambodian army. A year later only 32 were still operational due a lack of maintenance. Will it happen again this time to the 200 trucks received from China?
9:08 PM Great job!
Lack of maintenance!!!
Do am ahn want USA!
Yes, more military hardware to make it easier to harass the common Khmer people. The military and the police force only protects private companies. They are mercenaries.
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