Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC
“The US also sees the importance of Cambodia for enlarging its potential power to balance against China in the region.”
Political analysts say a visit to Cambodia by US President Barack Obama would greatly boost US influence here, where China holds much sway.
A US official said this week that Obama could participate in an Asean summit to be hosted in Cambodia in November.
The president and other US officials say they want to improve the US position in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ou Virak, head of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Tuesday the US can have strong partners in the region by supporting Asean and the 10 countries it represents.
“In this region, the US still pays more attention to the influx of Chinese influence,” he said. “We have recently seen issues in the South China Sea create conflicts with many member countries within Asean. So the US has picked Asean as a strong partner.”
China makes disputed claims to a vast stretch of the sea, which including the Spratly Islands and other territorial waters off the coasts of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam—all members of Asean.
Chheang Vannarith, director of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, said Obama’s participation in the Asean summit would improve the confidence of Southeast Asian countries in the US commitment to the region.
“The US also sees the importance of Cambodia for enlarging its potential power to balance against China in the region,” he said. “So this win-win policy that profits Cambodia and the US, as well.”
Cambodia is the head of Asean this year, serving in a rotating presidency. It will host one summit in April and a second in November that will include so-called dialogue partners, including China and the US.
China has poured aid and projects into Cambodia and regional neighbors in recent years, expanding its reach and influence as the US has struggled with an ailing economy and two wars.
Chheang Vannarith said bilateral relations between the US and Cambodia have nevertheless improved in recent years, especially in security cooperation.
“This is a key starting point, to strengthen the relationship over national defense between the two countries,” he said. However, he noted, the two have limited economic ties.
Ou Virak said Camboida would do well to take advantage of a US presidential visit and the increased attention it would focus on Cambodia.
Such attention could lead to the promotion of investment, tourism and other sectors, he said, countering the bad press Cambodia has endured recently in terms of the beleaguered Khmer Rouge tribunal, widespread land grabs and ongoing human rights abuses.
4 comments:
USA President will not Pay Official Visit to Cambodia. He will go to attend ASEAN Meeting. If ASEAN Meeting in the Moon, Obama will go to the Moon!!!!.
A failure to take a firm stance on an important issue could prove to be unforgivable to those who need your support!
US is the superpower in the entire world. Thus, Cambodia would be in a better place politically and economically if we can attract a positive attention from the US. It may help us get out away from the Yuon's hegemony.
Khmer Son
avertissement pour ah nal ,ne tromper pas ah nal noeung mi kachrouk Mr obama est une personne tres respectueux il va soutenir le peuple khmer seulement on le sait. quant au hun sen et ses gangs ce sont des mafias et des vrais vampires khmers ,pourk ah chhloeung .
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