Op-Ed By Jayakhmer
Originally posted at http://modernprogressivekhmer.blogspot.com/
As he observed America’s point of departure Elexis De Tocqueville wrote, “America is the only country in which we can watch the natural quiet growth of society and where it is possible to be exact about the influence of the point of departure on the future of a state.”
The recent China’s announcement of its military assistance to Cambodia could be construed as offset to the U.S. suspension of its military aid to Cambodia under its Excess Defense Articles program to protest Cambodia’s deportation of 20 Uighur refugees to China.
Although there is no sign of major shift in U.S. policy for Cambodia, diplomatic spats between the two nations could trigger a change of direction for Cambodia as it allows itself to be influenced by world’s dominant powers- the U.S. and China.
According to an article of June 2, 2009, Xinhua News Agency, U.S. Ambassador Carol Rodley’s statement of Cambodia's corruption causing the loss of 500 million U.S. dollars in revenue prompted this response from Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry, "The Royal Government of Cambodia absolutely refutes the politically motivated and unsubstantiated allegation made by the United States diplomat in contradiction of the good relations between Cambodia and the United States government"
Prior to this, Cambodian government has been active in asking the U.S. to write of its debt that amounts more than 300 million U.S. dollars. The response to this request is pending.
Could this be the turning point?
Cambodia’s fragile democracy is in its infancy. It could grow into either direction. The direction in which a political system is built upon the respect for human dignity, human rights, and political and economic freedom ; or the direction in which a political system is built upon heavy government controls with the disregard for human dignity, human rights, and limited political and economic freedom.
The danger is the line between these two spheres is increasingly obscured by the latter’s success. For example, the U.S. seems to diminish its world’s influence as it tries to deal with its financial crises while China seems to be able to continue its expansion especially in Asia and Africa.
The relationship between U.S. and China is complicated by their economic dependencies. The U.S. depends on China as one of its main creditors while China depends on the U.S. for its economic expansion. On June 8, 2009, Newsweek reported that of the U.S. foreign debts of $ 3.3 trillion, China’s share was $767.9 billion. China holds roughly $2.5 trillion in foreign assets.
One cannot make too much out of the recent China’s announcement of military assistance to Cambodia as any shift in Sino-Cambodian relation. As far as one can remember, China always has relationship with Cambodia that can be traced to the date of the Khmer Empire. The most notable one was China was an important partner with the government of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979). China retaliated against Vietnam for its invasion of Cambodia in 1979. And China has been a personal friend to the former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk. This relationship allows the former king to travel back and forth to and from China almost at will.
As Cambodia flirts with different dominant regional powers for its survival, it could become a spoiled child growing up with many parents and in many households. As such, it could sway toward China who has been silent on important issues that are rudimental for Cambodia’s long term strength and growth such as corruptions, human rights, and democracy. It should be noted that China was also silent about Cambodia’s genocidal regime during which approximately 1.7 million Cambodian lost their lives.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) predicts a modest of 4.5% GDP growth this year. During this growing pain, Cambodia should impose a self discipline by focusing in cleaning up corruptions, creating functional institutions, and especially creating opportunity to educate its future generations.
While it is natural for Cambodia to focus on agricultural sector, there are tremendous opportunities to get into renewable energy sector. Start paying attention to environmental issues now by making sure that Cambodia’s remaining natural resources such as rain forest and other natural resources are protected and wisely utilized will pay great dividends in the future.
Cambodia has all the resources to be independent and to stand on its feet without depending on foreign donations if it has the will to fix its corruption problems.
The recent China’s announcement of its military assistance to Cambodia could be construed as offset to the U.S. suspension of its military aid to Cambodia under its Excess Defense Articles program to protest Cambodia’s deportation of 20 Uighur refugees to China.
Although there is no sign of major shift in U.S. policy for Cambodia, diplomatic spats between the two nations could trigger a change of direction for Cambodia as it allows itself to be influenced by world’s dominant powers- the U.S. and China.
According to an article of June 2, 2009, Xinhua News Agency, U.S. Ambassador Carol Rodley’s statement of Cambodia's corruption causing the loss of 500 million U.S. dollars in revenue prompted this response from Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry, "The Royal Government of Cambodia absolutely refutes the politically motivated and unsubstantiated allegation made by the United States diplomat in contradiction of the good relations between Cambodia and the United States government"
Prior to this, Cambodian government has been active in asking the U.S. to write of its debt that amounts more than 300 million U.S. dollars. The response to this request is pending.
Could this be the turning point?
Cambodia’s fragile democracy is in its infancy. It could grow into either direction. The direction in which a political system is built upon the respect for human dignity, human rights, and political and economic freedom ; or the direction in which a political system is built upon heavy government controls with the disregard for human dignity, human rights, and limited political and economic freedom.
The danger is the line between these two spheres is increasingly obscured by the latter’s success. For example, the U.S. seems to diminish its world’s influence as it tries to deal with its financial crises while China seems to be able to continue its expansion especially in Asia and Africa.
The relationship between U.S. and China is complicated by their economic dependencies. The U.S. depends on China as one of its main creditors while China depends on the U.S. for its economic expansion. On June 8, 2009, Newsweek reported that of the U.S. foreign debts of $ 3.3 trillion, China’s share was $767.9 billion. China holds roughly $2.5 trillion in foreign assets.
One cannot make too much out of the recent China’s announcement of military assistance to Cambodia as any shift in Sino-Cambodian relation. As far as one can remember, China always has relationship with Cambodia that can be traced to the date of the Khmer Empire. The most notable one was China was an important partner with the government of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979). China retaliated against Vietnam for its invasion of Cambodia in 1979. And China has been a personal friend to the former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk. This relationship allows the former king to travel back and forth to and from China almost at will.
As Cambodia flirts with different dominant regional powers for its survival, it could become a spoiled child growing up with many parents and in many households. As such, it could sway toward China who has been silent on important issues that are rudimental for Cambodia’s long term strength and growth such as corruptions, human rights, and democracy. It should be noted that China was also silent about Cambodia’s genocidal regime during which approximately 1.7 million Cambodian lost their lives.
Asian Development Bank (ADB) predicts a modest of 4.5% GDP growth this year. During this growing pain, Cambodia should impose a self discipline by focusing in cleaning up corruptions, creating functional institutions, and especially creating opportunity to educate its future generations.
While it is natural for Cambodia to focus on agricultural sector, there are tremendous opportunities to get into renewable energy sector. Start paying attention to environmental issues now by making sure that Cambodia’s remaining natural resources such as rain forest and other natural resources are protected and wisely utilized will pay great dividends in the future.
Cambodia has all the resources to be independent and to stand on its feet without depending on foreign donations if it has the will to fix its corruption problems.
9 comments:
It's a worry some and if it's bad enough, there'll be another lon nol coming up.
Cambodia must walk into the future with both the US and China! Why Cambodia has to choose between China and the US? Whatever happen to the Yin and Yan concept!
10:32 AM
Dude, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Different condition today than during the Vietnam war time. The main reason why Sihanouk was overthrown was because he kicked the American out of Cambodia and didn't let them use Cambodia to fight against the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong. America needed a puppet Cambodia to fight against the Viet Cong.
The only reason America has against Cambodia today is political influence. It doesn't gain anything except influence and while America has been known to overthrow foreign government for political influence, they more than not do it because it benefits them economically. Cambodia has no real economic benefit to America that much.
If we have something they want that benefits them, then yes be scared. So until you can find real concrete reason for American to benefit from overthrowing the current government, I wouldn't care less about it.
USA cannot afford to have another war in South-est asia, mid-est is alread too expensive for it.
China knows that.
That's the turning point, backed by China, Cambodia becomes a country run by a dictator who would be the PM for his entire live.
That's what Sihanouk always dreamed..
The United States is our only hope for the future of Cambodian people.
The Cambodian government mustn't let the Chinese geopolitical influence blind.
The US must step in to alleviate all these sufferings, which caused by the government.
The U.S has long and been the super power. It's a very bad decision to undermine the U.S foreign influence. To benefit the Cambodia as a whole, Cambodia should embraces both countries, China and U.S. Any help from a foreign country is greatly appreciated.
At the end China only trust in Vietnam as a strong political player in the region. In Cambodia China will support just any operatic monkey -king or prime minister- loyal to the chinese game... Vietnam will get the final prize -total control of the economy and politic in the area. China despise Cambodia and Laos and dont see them as part of the "chinese family" as they see Vietnam...
true to 12:39, but most youns want to f* China everyday for being their never ending master and the reward is taking the best part of vietnam and ship them to China.
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