Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh
“Currently Cambodia’s foreign policy seems to face many obstacles."
As Cambodia prepares to step into its role as rotating head of Asean, political analysts say it will face a number of challenges, including its own ongoing border fracas with Thailand and a simmering dispute among member nations over the South China Sea.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, who met with the Thai secretary-general of Asean, Surin Pitsowan, on Thursday, told reporters that Cambodia would work toward regional integration in 2015.
However, independent political analyst Lao Monghay told VOA Khmer Cambodia will have to manage the border conflict with Thailand, competing interests over the South China Sea and the regional influences of the US and China if it is to have a successful run as head of the regional bloc.
“Currently Cambodia’s foreign policy seems to face many obstacles,” he said.
Ou Virak, president of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, said Cambodia’s chairmanship of Asean will mean it must mediate discussions between Asean and China, which holds heavy sway in the region.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a researcher for at the Asean Studies Center, said Cambodia would be wise to choose the issue of conflict resolution to concentrate on during its leadership of the regional body, giving priority especially to its own border concerns and working on the South China Sea issue.
My advise to the government is this, stick with your original parameter. Don't flip flop like the Siam. Rightly or wrongly, other countries will respect you more than if you're doing things to appease the popular fad.
ReplyDeleteSeek advise from friendly countries, i.e our friends such as China, Japan, South Korea, etc..Not Vietnam nor Thailand.
Be very decisive on critical issues. The border disputes between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam has been dragged on for too long. We need long term resolution now.