Cambodia-China Relations in the New Decade

 IRIC, May 7, 2020

The world is embarking in a new decade and one topic scholars around the world discuss is the future of China and its relations to other countries. China’s influence in Cambodia has drastically increased over the last two decades, in particular when it comes to FDI and military cooperation, and has led to tensions with the USA but also to resentments towards China in Cambodia. Seeing this trend and asking the question what kind of challenges might reveal over the next decade is the main question of the short opinion piece.

 The relations between Cambodia and China date back at least to the 13th century, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were officially established on July 19, 1958. China’s geopolitical interest in Cambodia changed significantly with the end of the Cold War. It retains considerable influence, including through close links with former King Norodom Sihanouk, many senior members of Cambodian Government and the ethnic Chinese community in Cambodia. There are regular high level exchanges between the two countries. China provides substantial bilateral aid, and economic links continued to grow.

Cambodia and China enjoy very strong political relations and military cooperation. In 2006, the two countries agreed to raise their bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership of cooperation and upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2010. Moreover, the two countries also signed “Action Plan 2019-2023 on Building China-Cambodia Community of Shared Future” in April 2019. Under this action plan, the two countries committed to undertake 31 measures in the five domains of politics, security, economics, people-to-people relations, and multilateral cooperation. However, their relations may have been overshadowed by development agenda. Since the introduction of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in late 2013, China has played influential role in Cambodia in which development agenda has been used as a tool.  

 

In full: http://iric.gov.kh/cambodia-china-relations-in-the-new-decade-2/