China to Clinton: No Question of Sovereignty Over South China Sea

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hold a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, September 5, 2012.

06 September 2012
Scott Stearns, VOA Khmer

BEIJING — China says there is no questioning its sovereignty over waters and islands in the South China Sea, some of which are claimed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines. But Chinese officials told visiting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that they are willing to work with Southeast Asian nations to resolve the dispute peacefully.

Secretary Clinton discussed the South China Sea disputes with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi Wednesday.

China has been critical of outside involvement in the dispute, saying foreign governments are trying to divide the region. Speaking to reporters following their talks, Yang repeated China's insistence that this be resolved by the claimants themselves and made clear that China's position is unassailable.

​​The foreign minister says there is plentiful historic and legal evidence for China's sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and adjacent waters. As for disputes to those claims, he says these should be discussed by those directly concerned on the basis of respect for historic facts and international law, to be settled through "direct negotiation and friendly consultation."

US, China jockey for influence with ASEAN [-The US thanks Indonesia rather than Hun Xen]

Wed, September 05 2012
Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her mission in Jakarta to enhance ties with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and bolster the grouping’s role in the South China Sea spat, China pledged to give Cambodia US$500 million in loans and grants as a token of gratitude for Phnom Penh’s move in accommodating the Asian superpower’s interests in the region.

Clinton concluded her state visit to Indonesia by making a courtesy call on President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono and paying a visit to ASEAN headquarters in South Jakarta.

In her meeting with Yudhoyono, Clinton discussed the South China Sea issue as well as Indonesia’s key role in ASEAN toward producing a peaceful resolution with China regarding the conflicting territorial claims.

“On the latest developments in the South China Sea, Secretary of State Clinton expressed the US’ appreciation for Indonesia’s role, particularly having managed to retain ASEAN unity. Indonesia and the US have agreed to push for a code of conduct within the zone, particularly ahead of the ASEAN and East Asia summits in Phnom Penh in November,” Marty, who accompanied Yudhoyono at the meeting, told a press conference at the Presidential Office on Tuesday.

US looks beyond garments to deepen Cambodia trade

Local people watch from the roadside as a motorcade with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton passes on its way to the US-Asean business forum and dinner on July 13 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. AFP

23/07/2012
By Steve Finch in Siem Reap
Bangkok Post

The biggest US trade delegation to Cambodia in decades joined Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here as the two countries look to expand their economic relationship beyond exports of cheaply produced garments.

Executives from Google, Goldman Sachs and MasterCard were among the cast of US multinationals that attended the US-Asean Business Forum in Siem Reap on July 13 following Mrs Clinton’s stops in Vietnam and Laos.

“On the economic front, there is much more room for us to grow together, so we are working to foster economic activity in very tangible ways,” the secretary of state said at the US-Asean Ministerial Meeting in Phnom Penh.

Leading a delegation of more than 20 American companies to Hanoi in a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Mrs Clinton noted the trade relationship with Vietnam had grown more than twenty-fold since 2001 to US$22 billion last year.

Lower Mekong Foreign Ministers Meet to Discuss US's Initiatives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh9vdt4RGko

Clinton in plea for workers' rights in Asia

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (centre L) speaks during the 2nd Friends of Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting held on the sidelines of the 45th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Phnom Penh. Clinton Friday urged Southeast Asian nations to promote workers' rights and improve labour conditions as a means of spurring economic growth

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan (C), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba (R) shake hands at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on July 12. Clinton Friday urged Southeast Asian nations to promote workers' rights and improve labour conditions as a means of spurring economic growth

AFP – July ,13 , 2012

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday urged Southeast Asian nations to promote workers' rights and improve labour conditions as a means of spurring economic growth.

"Standing up for workers' rights and high labour standards is both right and moral, it's also smart and strategic," Clinton told a women's forum in the Cambodian town of Siem Reap.

Respecting workers' rights "leads to positive economic outcomes including higher levels of investment. And bringing women into the economy has ripple effects," she said, adding it boosted equal opportunity and raised taxes for governments.

Her comments come as US businesses are poised to push into Myanmar, virtually virgin territory for the West, as the United States only this week eased decades-old sanctions to allow US investment but attached stringent reporting conditions.

Clinton urges Mekong nations to avoid US dam mistakes

AFP – July , 13 , 2012

The US on Friday urged Mekong nations to learn from its mistakes in river infrastructure projects, as Laos confirmed it has postponed a controversial multi-billion dollar dam project.

The $3.8 billion hydroelectric project at Xayaburi has sharply divided the four Mekong nations -- Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand -- who rely on the river system for fish and irrigation.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pressed for further environmental assessments before proceeding with the project during a meeting with Mekong countries in the Cambodian capital, echoing calls from Hanoi and Phnom Penh who worry the dam could decimate their fishing and farming industries.

Clinton, who called the Mekong river basin "a miracle", said Washington would help fund studies on the impact of proposed dams on the river, on which some 60 million people depend for transportation, food and economy.

Putting Workers’ Rights a Center Piece of Trade Agreement

Mu Sochua thanking Sec. Clinton for release of the Beung Kak Lake women

Exchanging warm greetings with Sec. Clinton at the Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment Policy Dialogue for the Lower Mekong Initiative-Siem Reap.

July 14, 2012
By Mu Sochua

The Sam Rainsy Party has put workers' rights as a center piece for economic growth since the first day the party was established. The founding members of SRP include Chea Vichea and Ou Mary.

Lead by Mr. Sam Rainsy in 1995, the workers' movement pushed from no minimum wage to US$45 and major improvement of working conditions, including the rights to use toilets and an 8 hour working day.

The message for oppressive governments: you want real investments from US, then CONNECT through OPENNESS, FREEDOM, RIGHTS and DEMOCRATIC VALUES.

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http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/07/195001.htm

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Minister Phavi, for that introduction and also for describing the results of what has been, by all reports, an excellent meeting. And I thank all the heads of delegations who are here and all of the attendees. I want to welcome all our partners from the Lower Mekong nation and from the Friends of the Lower Mekong. And I want to commend the Government of Cambodia for its leadership in the Lower Mekong Initiative and for co-hosting this conference.

We launched this organization three years ago to expand cooperation on issues that affect the daily lives of people across the region. And I’m getting some feedback. I’m hearing the Cambodian translation at the same time. (Laughter.) I wish I spoke Cambodian, but I don’t. So I was having a little trouble, but thank you for that.

We launched this organization three years ago to expand cooperation on issues that affect the daily lives of the people across the region, from protecting the environment to managing water resources to improving infrastructure, education, and public health. And now with the inclusion of the government in Nay Pyi Taw we are poised to make even greater progress together.

Clinton Discusses Investment, Debt in Cambodia

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks at a press conference during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, July 12, 2012.

Friday, 13 July 2012
Scott Stearns, VOA | Phnom Penh

"What we want to do is work with the Cambodian government to try to resolve these longstanding issues in a way that is fair, to help the Cambodian government enhance its credit worthiness, increase its access to international capital markets. We think it will be in Cambodia’s interest to be able to enter into international financial markets."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Cambodia where she met with Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss U.S. investment and Cambodia's outstanding debt.

Cambodia wants the United States to forgive more than $400 million in debt accrued by the US-backed military government of Lon Nol. He took power in a 1970 coup and borrowed money from Washington at three percent interest, in part, to feed supporters in Phnom Penh as they were surrounded and ultimately defeated by the Khmer Rouge.

Prime Minister Hun Sen says that is "dirty debt" that Cambodia should not have to repay.

Clinton announces $50M in aid for SE Asia

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, greets U.S. Embassy staff at the Le Royal hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Friday, July 13, 2012. Photo: Brendan Smialowski, Pool / AP

Thursday, July 12, 2012
BRADLEY KLAPPER, Associated Press

PHNOM PEHN, Cambodia (AP) — The United States says it will provide five counties in Southeast Asia with $50 million over three years to assist them with health, education and environment programs.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the funding Friday in Cambodia.

Recipients of the aid are Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Clinton is finishing up a week of diplomacy in Asia. She meets later Friday with Myanmar's president and will introduce him to U.S. business leaders.

10 Women activists excluded from gov't gender equity forum: talk about gender discrimination

សកម្មជន​ស្ត្រី​ចំនួន ១០​នាក់ ​មកពី​វិស័យ​ផ្សេងគ្នា នៅ​កម្ពុជា ដែលបាន​ស្វះស្វែង ដើម្បី​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ពិភាក្សា​គោលនយោបាយ​ស្តីពី សមភាព​យេនឌ័រ និង​ការលើកកម្ពស់​ភាព​អង់អាច​របស់​ស្ត្រី នៅខេត្តសៀមរាប

គោលនយោបាយ ស្តីពី សមភាព​យេនឌ័រ មិន​ត្រូវបាន​អញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​សកម្មជន​ស្ត្រី ១០ នាក់ ចូលរួម​ឡើយ​

ថ្ងៃទី 12 កក្កដា 2012
ដោយ: លីនណា
Cambodia Express News

ភ្នំពេញ: សកម្មជន​ស្ត្រី​ចំនួន ១០​នាក់ ដែល​មកពី​វិស័យ​ផ្សេងគ្នា នៅ​កម្ពុជា បាន​ស្វះស្វែង ដើម្បី​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ពិភាក្សា​គោលនយោបាយ​ស្តីពី សមភាព​យេនឌ័រ និង​ការលើកកម្ពស់​ភាព​អង់អាច​របស់​ស្ត្រី តែ​ត្រូវបាន​ហាមឃាត់ មិន​ឲ្យ​ចូលរួម​ក្នុង​កម្មវិធី​នោះទេ ដោយសារតែ​មិនមាន​លិខិតអញ្ជើញ​។

​ដោយឡែក​នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី​១៣ ខែ​ក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ សកម្មជន​ស្ត្រី​ទាំង ១០​នាក់​នោះ នឹង​ជួប​ជាមួយ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងការបរទេស​អាមេរិក លោកស្រី ហ៊ីល​ឡា​រី គ្លី​ន​តុ​ន នៅ​ខេត្តសៀមរាប​។ នេះ​បើតាម​ការ​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ពី​លោក ឃុន ថា​រ៉ូ មន្ត្រី​សម្របសម្រួល នៃ​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​អាមេរិកកាំង សម្រាប់​សាមគ្គីភាព​ការងារ នៅ​ល្ងាច​ថ្ងៃទី​១២ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២​។

​កិច្ចប្រជុំ​ខាងលើ ជា​គំនិត​ផ្ដួចផ្ដើម​ដោយ​ក្រសួងការបរទេស​អាមេរិក និង​ក្រសួង​កិច្ចការនារី នៃ​ព្រះរាជាណាចក្រ​កម្ពុជា នៅក្រោម​ក្របខ័ណ្ឌ នៃ​គំនិត​ផ្តួចផ្តើម នៃ​ប្រទេស​ទន្លេមេគង្គ​ក្រោម (LMI) ដើម្បី​លើកកម្ពស់​ស្ត្រី​នៅក្នុង​តំបន់​អាស៊ីអាគ្នេយ៍ នៅ​ខេត្តសៀមរាប ក្នុង​សណ្ឋាគារ​សូ​ហ្វី​តែ​ល ធ្វើឡើង​នៅ​ថ្ងៃទី​១២-១៣ ខែកក្កដា ឆ្នាំ​២០១២ ដោយ​នឹងមាន​ការចូលរួម​ពី​លោកស្រី ហ៊ីល​ឡា រី​គ្លី​ន​តុ​ន រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងការបរទេស រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួង​កិច្ចការនារី​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ថៃ វៀតណាម និង​ប្រទេស​ភូមា និង​មន្ត្រី​ដែល​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​។​

Clinton takes swipe at China aid to Cambodia

The United States is committed to helping ordinary Cambodians rather than funding vanity projects, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday, in a subtle dig at China-backed schemes in the country

AFP – July, 12 ,2012

The United States is committed to helping ordinary Cambodians rather than funding vanity projects, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday, in a subtle dig at China-backed schemes in the country.

"The United States remains strongly committed to working with and supporting Cambodian people," Clinton told reporters after attending a regional security forum in the capital Phnom Penh.

"Sometimes it is a little frustrating, I will admit, for the United States because we channel our aid in so far as possible to the people themselves," she said.

"So we cannot point to a big building we have built. But we can point to more children being alive, more people surviving HIV/Aids, more women surviving child birth."

Clinton Warns of Sea Clashes as China Delays Talks Over Rules

Jul 11, 2012
By Daniel Ten Kate and Nicole Gaouette
Bloomberg News

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned of more confrontations in the South China Sea without a region-wide solution as China rebuffed calls to expedite talks on rules for operating in disputed waters.

“Issues such as freedom of navigation and lawful exploitation of maritime resources often involve a wide region,” Clinton said in remarks today to Asia-Pacific foreign ministers during a meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. “Approaching them strictly bilaterally could be a recipe for confusion and even confrontation.”

Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying yesterday said China would start talks on a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea “when conditions are ripe,” according to the official Xinhua News Agency. It warned nations this week to avoid mentioning the territorial spats with Vietnam and the Philippines at today’s regional security meeting that includes envoys from 26 Asia-Pacific nations and the European Union.

Clinton talks cash injections at ASEAN

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives in Phnom Penh yesterday. Photograph: Pha Lina/Phnom Penh Post

Thursday, 12 July 2012
Cheang Sokha and David Boyle
The Phnom Penh Post

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday told delegates at the ASEAN Regional Forum her country would put “our money where our mouth is” with its regional development assistance, starting with a down payment she would announce in coming days.

Clinton said that under the Obama administration, Asia had become a strategic priority, but acknowledged the region wanted to see greater US engagement “across the board”.

“But you are particularly focused on areas where our presence at times has been underrated,” Clinton said, identifying economic interrogation and development as two areas she wanted to address.

“We have more investment in ASEAN than we have in China. That is a surprising fact to many people in our country,” Clinton noted.

Clinton Urges Multilateral Solutions for Territorial Disputes

Thursday, July 12th, 2012
Voice of America

The United States is urging southeast Asian nations to work “collaboratively and diplomatically” to resolve territorial disputes, such as disagreements over the South China Sea.

In remarks prepared for a conference Thursday in Cambodia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says multilateral talks should be used to address ways to settle the disputes. She says the issues involved often affect a wider region, and two-party negotiations can bring “confusion and even confrontation.”

Clinton is attending meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and holding separate sessions with her counterparts from the region, including key talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all or part of the South China Sea, with its vast fishing grounds and potential oil and gas deposits.

US, China square off over South China Sea

July 12, 2012
Associated Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Obama administration pressed Beijing on Thursday to accept a code of conduct for resolving territorial disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea, a difficult U.S. mediation effort that has faced resistance from the communist government. It has endeared the U.S., however, to once-hostile countries in Southeast Asia.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' annual conference, where several governments have expressed worry about China's expansive maritime claims. Tensions have threatened to boil over in recent months, with a standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships and sharp disagreements between China and Vietnam.

China claims virtually the entire area and has created an entirely new city to administer it, sparking deep concern from rival claimants. The sea hosts about a third of the world's cargo traffic, has rich fishing grounds and is believed to store vast oil and gas reserves.

"The United States has no territorial claims there and we do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries," Clinton told foreign ministers gathered in Cambodia's capital. "But we do have an interest in freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea."

Beijing Defends Sea Claims as Clinton Visits Region

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, views prosthetic limbs at a center in Vientiane, Laos, that provides them to amputees, including victims of blasts of Vietnam War era ordnance. Mrs. Clinton is attending a regional summit Thursday in Phnom Penh. (Associated Press)

The Japan coast guard handed out a photo that it said shows a Chinese patrol boat, left, cruising near its vessel on Wednesday in waters claimed by Japan near disputed East China Sea islands. (Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

July 11, 2012
By PATRICK BARTA
The Wall Street Journal

China asserted its territorial claims in the Western Pacific on two fronts Wednesday, warning diplomats gathered in Cambodia's capital to respect its claims in the South China Sea and engaging in a standoff with Japanese vessels in the East China Sea.

Beijing sought to block efforts to resolve long-running tensions over claims in the South China Sea, warning participants in a regional summit attended by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Phnom Penh that it is "crucial" they leave the issue out of their discussions.

Mrs. Clinton arrived in the Cambodian capital late Wednesday after making a brief but historic trip to the Laotian capital of Vientiane. She is the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Laos since John Foster Dulles in 1955. She met with the communist nation's prime minister, Thongsing Thammavong, and discussed ways of unlocking more investment there as part of Washington's effort to build allies in Southeast Asia to match China's growing influence in the region.

Clinton Meets With Asean States Ahead of Regional Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGJCPt4KVX4

Clinton Meets With Asean States Ahead of Regional Forum

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with US Ambassador to Cambodia William E. Todd upon arriving in Phnom Penh on Wednesday. (Photo: VOA Khmer)

Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Reporters,VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“I understand that Asean faces a variety of challenges and even growing pains as it adapts and takes on new responsibilities.”

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened a US-Asean ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, as international foreign ministers gather for a major regional security forum to open Thursday.

Clinton touched down Wednesday between monsoon rainstorms. She delivered an address ahead of her meeting, saying she “strongly” supports Asean. The US has recently undertaken more engagement in Southeast Asia, where China’s influence continues to grow.

“I understand that Asean faces a variety of challenges and even growing pains as it adapts and takes on new responsibilities,” she said. “But I believe Asean plays an indispensable role in holding this region’s institutional architecture together and in advancing the common interest of all stakeholders in the Asia Pacific.”

Clinton Discusses Bilateral, Regional Issues with Cambodian PM

2012-07-11
Xinhua

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen here on Wednesday evening, discussing bilateral ties and regional issues.

During the one-hour meeting at the Peace Palace, Clinton highly evaluated good cooperation between the U.S. and Cambodia and emphasized that the two countries have much room to grow in terms of trade and investment, according to Eang Sophallet, spokesman for Hun Sen.

The U.S. is satisfied with the security cooperation with Cambodia and wishes to see further expansion in this cooperation, Clinton said.

Hillary arrives in Cambodia for ASEAN meetings

PHNOM PENH, July 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on Wednesday afternoon to attend the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum and related meetings.

As scheduled, the Secretary of State will attend the ASEAN-U.S. Ministerial Meeting, the 19th ASEAN Regional Forum, and related meetings.

She will also meet with Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace.

In addition, she is scheduled to participate in the ASEAN-U.S. Business Forum in Siem Reap province on Friday afternoon. The forum, presided over by Hun Sen, will also be attended by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Siem Reap, situated at some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, is the country's largest cultural tourism destination. It houses the Angkor Wat Temples, one of the World Heritage Sites.