New numbers on China's Cambodia aid

By Milton Osborne - 19 September 2012
The Interpreter

In my post of 17 July I suggested that it was no surprise Cambodia acted as China wished in relation to the South China Sea issue at the time of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting held in Cambodia.

Given Chinese aid, it was always likely that Cambodia would balk at agreeing to a joint communique that, in effect, was critical of China. While critics of Cambodia's actions referred to it as China's 'puppet' or 'pawn', far too little attention was given to just how large China's aid to Cambodia, particularly relative to other sources.

For many years it has been difficult to quantify the exact size of China's aid, but a new assessment from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies draws attention both to the size and the relative importance of the aid by comparison with that received from other donors:

China offers Cambodia $2.5 billion in investments and soft loans.

Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabao pledged to give Cambodia $500 million in loans for infrastructure projects following a September 1­2 visit to China by Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. China also approved a $2 billion industrial park project that would produce 3 million tons of steel per year and employ up to 10,000 Cambodians. Chinese investment in Cambodia totaled $1.9 billion in 2011, more than double the investment by all ASEAN countries combined and 10 times that by the United States. Cambodian officials rejected speculation that the aid was a Chinese thank-you for Cambodia's support for China on the South China Sea, parts of which are disputed between China and four of Cambodia's Southeast Asian neighbors.

US 'pivot' as bankrupt diplomacy

Sep 19, 2012
By George Amurao
Asia Times Online

During United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent regional tour, America's top diplomat acknowledged the crucial role economic aid will play in the US's "pivot" towards Asia. Despite that recognition, Clinton failed to present concrete plans for a significant boost in non-military aid to allies in Southeast Asia, underscoring the US's fiscal straits and future ability to project financial power.

As the US bids to recalibrate its foreign policy more towards Asia, the world's lone superpower faces the dual challenge of China's growing military muscle and stores of soft power accumulated through years of checkbook diplomacy in the region. Unless the US is able to match or exceed China's economic and financial sweeteners, its "pivot" policy will come under rising criticism for its emphasis on strategic affairs.

China owes much of its power and influence in the region to generous hand outs and a fast growing economy, both of which have propelled economic growth across much of Southeast Asia during the wider global slowdown. While recent confrontations with the Philippines and Vietnam over contested territories in the South China Sea have raised concerns about China's long term intentions, its growing economic clout in the region has so far helped to cap those anxieties.

China makes cash donation to support Chinese schools in Cambodia

Xinhua | 2012-8-11

Chinese government donated over 25,700 US dollars to the Chinese Association in Cambodia Friday in order to support Chinese language teaching in the country.

The hand-over ceremony was made at the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia between the Ambassador Pan Guangxue and Duong Chhiv, the president of the Chinese Association in Cambodia.

Speaking at the event, Pan said that, of the donated amount, $10, 000 was donated by the Embassy and the other $15,700 was granted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

He expressed appreciation to the association for its long- lasting efforts in promoting Chinese language and culture in Cambodia.

Cambodia Inaugurates China-funded Road in N Provinces

2012-08-08
Xinhua

Cambodia on Wednesday inaugurated a 128-kilometer China-funded national road No. 62 in an effort to boost social and economic development in northern provinces.

The road, from Kampong Thom province's Kampong Svay district to the provincial town of Preah Vihear province, cost about 52 million U.S. dollars under a soft loan from the Government of China and was built by the Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Pan Guangxue, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, presided over the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by top government officials, diplomatic corps, some 10, 000 locals and students.

Asean Woes Signal Cambodian Shift Toward China, Analysts Say

It was the first time in 45 years the bloc of 10 Southeast Asian nations failed to issue a joint statement at the end of a meeting.

18 July 2012

Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer

China has given billions of dollars in aid to Cambodia in recent years, making it the top donor.

WASHINGTON DC - Asean’s failure to sign a joint communique following meetings last week was due to Cambodia’s close siding with China, shunning its traditional ally, Vietnam, analysts say.

It was the first time in 45 years the bloc of 10 Southeast Asian nations failed to issue a joint statement at the end of a meeting, highlighting growing pressure within the grouping.

Phat Kosal, a researcher of Asian affairs at the University of Southern California, said Cambodia needs China’s aid to help it climb from poverty.

There will be “resentment” from Vietnam, he said, “but it does not break [the relationship] in the future, because Vietnam knows that Cambodia cannot do anything, as it is under the strong pressure of China, and because Cambodia needs assistance to solve its economic problems.”

China Sends Medical Team to Treat Epidemic in Cambodia [... after case subsided???]

2012-07-13
Xinhua

A Chinese medical team has been sent to Cambodia to aid in alleviation of an outbreak of EV71, an intestinal virus, the Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The medical team arrived in Phnom Penh Thursday morning with medical supplies, the ministry said.

The ministry was informed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that a number of children have been infected by EV71 in several provinces of Cambodia since April, the statement said.

The Chinese team will assist Cambodian medical workers in analyzing the virus, treating patients, studying the epidemic and training local staff, the statement said.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Foreign Aid

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

ចិនផ្តល់ក្រដាសចិនជួយ សម្រាប់ PQRU P-SCREW

ចិននឹងជួយ អង្គភាពព័ត៌មាន និងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស ដើម្បីពង្រឹង សមត្ថភាព ក្នុងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយ ព័ត៌មាន

Wednesday, 27 June 2012
ដោយ: អេង គឹមជាង 
DAP-news

ភ្នំពេញ៖ ក្នុងជំនួបពិភាក្សា ដែលធ្វើឡើងរវាង គណៈប្រតិភូ នៃអង្គភាពព័ត៌មាន និង ប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស (PRU) ជាមួយលោក Hong Liang អគ្គនាយករង ក្រសួងការបរទេស នៃសាធារណរដ្ឋ ប្រជាមានិត ចិន ដែលមានរយៈពេលមួយម៉ោង ប្រព្រឹត្តឡើងនៅក្នុងទឹកដីចិននាពេលកន្លងមកនោះ ចិនសន្យា នឹងជួយអង្គភាពព័ត៌មាន និងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស ដើម្បីពង្រឹងសមត្ថភាព ក្នុងការផ្សព្វផ្សាយព័ត៌មាន។

យោងតាមគេហទំព័រ របស់ទីស្តីការគណៈរដ្ឋមន្រ្តីបានឲ្យដឹងថា ក្នុងជំនួបពិភាក្សាមួយ ធ្វើឡើង កាល ពីថ្ងៃទី១៨ ខែមិថុនា រវាងគណៈប្រតិភូ នៃអង្គភាពព័ត៌មាននិងប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស ជាមួយចិននោះ គឺ ភាគីចិននឹងសន្យាគាំទ្រ ជួយអង្គភាពព័ត៌មាន និង ប្រតិកម្មរហ័ស ពង្រឹងសមត្ថភាព របស់ខ្លួន ក្នុងការងារផ្សព្វផ្សាយ និងប្រតិកម្មមិនថាតាមរយៈប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយធម្មតា ឬតាមរយៈប្រព័ន្ធ ផ្សព្វផ្សាយសង្គម ដែលកំពុងតែរីកដុះដាល នោះទេ ហើយក៏ដើម្បីធ្វើឱ្យមាន តុល្យភាពរវាង សេចក្តី រាយការណ៍ព័ត៌មាន បទវិភាគនានារបស់ ប្រទេសអភិវឌ្ឍន៍ និងបទវិភាគនានា នៃប្រទេស កំពុង អភិវឌ្ឍន៍ ដូចជាប្រទេសកម្ពុជា និងចិនជាដើម។

Chinese cheap peccadillo offered as aid to Hun Xen's regime?

China donates mini-buses, office supplies to Cambodia

Xinhua | June 08, 2012

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue, on behalf the Chinese government, handed over million-yuan worth donation to Cambodian Senate Friday, further cementing the two countries' friendly relations.

Cambodian Senate will receive three minibuses, five printers, nine scanners, 30 desktops, 30 laptops and one telephone extension system worth some $158,000.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon - Money, Money!

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

China-funded road, bridge begin construction in Cambodia [-Welcome to the road and bridge to be paid for by your children!!!]

2012-05-05
Xinhua

STUNG TRENG, Cambodia - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday broke ground for the construction of the China-funded national road No 214 and the Cambodia-China Friendship Mekong-Stung Treng Bridge in the northern part of Cambodia.

The 144-kilometer road and a 1,731-meter bridge have been building under the soft loan of $116 million from the government of China, aiming at boosting the economic development in Cambodia's border provinces.

The road stretches from Stung Treng province to Preah Vihear province. The Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company undertakes the construction, which is expected to complete in 45 months.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Hun Sen said that the road and bridge are very important to develop and link border provinces, adding that they are in the northern corridor which connects Cambodia to Vietnam and Laos.

Chinese Influence Under Scrutiny

Beijing’s sway in Cambodia causes controversy in the wake of a presidential visit.

2012-04-03

Radio Free Asia

“The Chinese and Cambodian friendship is a life and death issue for Cambodia. It provides us with a life of freedom, sovereignty and independence, and is extremely vital” - Sisowath Thomico

China’s vast influence over Cambodia has come under scrutiny following a visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Phnom Penh on the eve of a major regional summit, during which Cambodia tried to exclude the South China Sea territorial dispute from the official agenda.

Hu on Monday concluded a four-day visit to the capital during which he met with King Norodom Sihamoni, as well as his counterpart, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

During the visit, ahead of Cambodia’s hosting of the 2012 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on April 3-4, Hu signed a total of 10 infrastructure cooperation agreements and pledged tens of millions of dollars in grants and loans. The two sides also agreed to double bilateral trade by 2017.

Cambodia is this year’s chair of the regional ASEAN body, which also includes Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

China Pledges US$70m Aid to Cambodia ($70 million for all of us to pay back!!!)

April 2, 2012
By Alex Ferreras

Phnom Penh (Source: Asia News Network (MCT)) – Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Prime Minister Hun Sen Saturday, pledging more than US$70 million in aid and agreeing to have Cambodia mediate over the South China Sea.

Srey Thamrong, minister attached to the prime minister’s office, said the aid comprised a grant of 250 million yuan ($39.6 million) and a low-interest loan of 200 million yuan ($31.7 million).

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said Hu Jintao told Hun Sen that said disputes over the South China Sea needed to be solved within an Asean framework.

Apart from China and Taiwan, the territorial dispute includes four members, namely Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Chinese president inspects restoration work for Takeo in Angkor complex

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with a staff member during his inspection at the site of a restoration project assisted by the Chinese government on the ruined Takeo temple in the complex of the Angkor Archaeological Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia, April 1, 2012. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

SIEM REAP, Cambodia, April 1 (Xinhua) -- "The Angkor Wat is a gem of human civilization and a valuable treasure of the Cambodian people," visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao Sunday told Chinese technicians working on a restoration project in the Angkor Archaeological Park in Cambodia.

Inspecting the China-assisted restoration project on the ruined Takeo temple in the famous Angkor complex in northwest Cambodia, Hu said the governments of both countries "have great faith in you when you were given the formidable job of restoring the Takeo temple."

"I hope you will overcome all the difficulties and accomplish the task with solid work," the president said.

The restoration project of the Takeo temple, which was built by King Jayavarman V and Suryavarman I from the late 10th century to the early 11th century, is the second phase of the Chinese government assistance in restoring Angkor activities.

Chinese investment welcomed [by Cambodia]

2012-03-31
China Daily

Cambodia welcomes Chinese financial companies to invest in the country, as the Southeast Asian nation plans to launch a stock market in April, Cambodia's top envoy in Beijing said.

Chinese investment and assistance has helped strengthen the cooperation between the two countries, Khek M Cai Mealy said in a written statement to China Daily.

"Cambodia needs assistance from China in all fields," she said ahead of President Hu Jintao's four-day visit to Cambodia, which starts on Friday.

China has been investing in several sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and education.

OCEC monitors Chinese funds for water infrastructure construction in Malai district

ORPHAN  CULTURE EDUCATION CENTER (OCEC)

 is monitoring the funds of two million dollars donated "by the Chinese government" on October 2011 for DAM and CANAL Project.

OCEC wishes it can be completed as soon as possible for the sake of the poor people in the area.

http://www.box.com/s/fdf8b67fbae0f2120f3f

China Leads in Assistance to Cambodia

2012-03-17
Xinhua

China is the largest donor in infrastructure development assistance to Cambodia, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Keat Chhon said Saturday.

"China is the No. 1 donor for infrastructure development here, and Japan comes at the second," he told reporters after opening a regional economic forum.

He said that China's aid on infrastructure is vital for Cambodia to boost its long-term economic growth.

China to Continue Helping Cambodia with Infrastructure

2012-03-12
Xinhua

China will continue to help Cambodia with its infrastructure and raise living standard of its people, said Pan Guangxue, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia Battambang Cambodia Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Cambodia's 57 national road Battambang-Pailing section in Battambang, Pan said " The completion of the road will help elevate the country's regional economic development, especially in terms of agricultural product export, and also heighten the local people's living standard."

He noted that the 103-kilometer road, which links Battambang with Pailing on the borders with Thailand is seen as one of the traffic arteries in the kingdom's northwestern region.

Chinese Red Cross donates 146 water pumps to Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Red Cross Society of China on Thursday donated 146 water pumps worth 200,000 U.S. dollars to Cambodian Red Cross to help those provinces hit hard by floods last year.

The hand-over ceremony was presided over by Annie Sok An, the first vice president of Cambodian Red Cross, and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue.

Annie Sok An expressed her gratitude to the Chinese Red Cross and the Chinese people, saying that their selfless help to Cambodia will significantly improve Cambodian people's standard of living and enhance Sino-Cambodian ties.

Hearing of Evidence in Case 002 | February 8, 2012

Hearing of Evidence in Case 002 | February 8, 2012 - Part 1 from Cambodia Tribunal Monitor on Vimeo.


Hearing of Evidence in Case 002 | February 8, 2012 - Part 2 from Cambodia Tribunal Monitor on Vimeo.