Cambodia Scraps US Aid Program, Accepts $150M From China

[727Sky]

Posted 8 hours ago · Report post
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA — 
In another sign of a diplomatic shift toward Beijing, Cambodia has scrapped a long-standing U.S. military development aid program.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia notified the Embassy last week of its decision to postpone indefinitely the mission of the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion - better known as the Seabees - which has been carrying out community service projects in underserved areas of Cambodia since 2008. The Cambodian government did not offer a reason for this decision,” Jay Raman, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, emailed VOA on Wednesday.

The decision ends a program that has run for nine years.

Earlier this year Cambodia canceled a joint military exercise with the United States, and Prime Minister Hun Sen has lobbied for the U.S. to forgive Cambodia’s $500 million in debts dating back to the 1970s.

The Seabees ran a humanitarian program in Cambodia that included building schools, maternity wards and rural development projects. The projected budget through 2019 was $815,000 according a U.S. embassy spokesman.

However, Royal Cambodian Navy Commander Tea Vinh was quoted by local media as saying the Seabees were going on “vacation” and would complete their assigned projects.

The Seabees’ change of status is a further sign of Cambodia’s closeness with China. Cambodia has gone further than other Southeast Asian nations in courting China, and the shift away from Washington has continued under President Donald Trump despite Hun Sen's professed admiration for him.

On Tuesday, Hun Sen thanked Beijing for a $150 million grant for the construction of a new sports stadium in the capital.

“Thanks Mr. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang and the Chinese people that provided support and offered this major grant to Cambodia ... which reflects close friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China,” the Cambodian leader wrote on Facebook.

In October, President Xi made an official visit and left behind $237 million in new aid. Some political analysts have said the increasing aid from China reflects a shift in Cambodia’s international politics toward an Asian neighbor that has no qualms about human rights abuses. Human Rights Watch has reported that during 2016, Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) “significantly escalated persecution on political grounds.”

Chheang Vannarith, chairman of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies, told VOA in an email Wednesday that Cambodia was pursuing a more pragmatic foreign policy.

“Cambodia is against any hegemonic power or patron-type country. Cambodia is pro-Cambodia and this has been the core principle of Cambodia's foreign policy,” he wrote. “However, over-dependency on any single country may challenge Cambodia's permanent neutrality.”

Sophal Ear, an associate professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College in Los Angeles, however, said Cambodia’s national interest should be the driver of its foreign policy.

“Increasing dependence on China has long-term negative implications, like any over-dependence on anyone. Cambodia should be independent.”
 
read more https://www.voanews.com/a/cambodia-scrap...00792.html

[guohua]

You just Can't Fix Stupidity!
China,,, No I'd say this, NO Asian Country gives you anything for Free, with No Strings Attached.

Yes a Sports Stadium is more Important Than Stores, Hospitals and Clinics.
Bring our SeaBees home without finishing the Work and tell them we want our 500 Million Dollars With Interest.

[727Sky]

From where I sit China has been going after friends and neighbors in a different way from what the USA has done for many years.. They have been cash rich and throwing money at infrastructure all over S.E. Asia instead of just buying a few political puppets. Cambodia's present regime seems to be bad news and wants to crack down on anyone who disagrees with their way of doing things.. IMO The young teenagers who were doing all the killing in the 70s seem to be running the country now... ? All of S.E. Asia is beautiful if you like lush jungles, mountains and beaches...it is a shame there are those who want to mess it up for everyone..
https://newsletter.thaivisa.com/l/jzQgFp...Smln5XA48w

Cristina Maza and Meas Sokchea
 
Two separate groups of international parliamentarians this week raised concerns over the state of democracy in Cambodia, seeing threats to pluralism and human rights in harassment of opposition politicians, trade unions and civil society activists.
 
Members of the European Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) condemned what they see as a crackdown on the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party ahead of commune and national elections.
 
In Bangladesh on Wednesday, an IPU assembly, which represents 171 countries, adopted a resolution calling attention to the arrest, persecution and suspension from the National Assembly of members of the opposition.
 
read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/wo...is-kingdom

 
Cambodia is more than leaning towards being allied with China.. Funny thing communist Laos and Cambodia were having some kind of border dispute a couple of weeks ago with troops massing.. Nothing (so far) has come of it though..

 Sorry I did not dig and try to find out what was the cause of the dispute.. to busy with golf....hahahhaah

[727Sky]

You just Can't Fix Stupidity!
China,,, No I'd say this, NO Asian Country gives you anything for Free, with No Strings Attached.

Yes a Sports Stadium is more Important Than Stores, Hospitals and Clinics.
Bring our SeaBees home without finishing the Work and tell them we want our 500 Million Dollars With Interest.

How many countries has China invaded".......Hummm...Tibet. Mongolia. Vietnam. South Korea. India. Russia?

 China is a greatly under rated terrible neighbor. The nations around China fear getting on its' bad side for good reason IMO.

[guohua]

You just Can't Fix Stupidity!
China,,, No I'd say this, NO Asian Country gives you anything for Free, with No Strings Attached.

Yes a Sports Stadium is more Important Than Stores, Hospitals and Clinics.
Bring our SeaBees home without finishing the Work and tell them we want our 500 Million Dollars With Interest.

How many countries has China invaded".......Hummm...Tibet. Mongolia. Vietnam. South Korea. India. Russia?

 China is a greatly under rated terrible neighbor. The nations around China fear getting on its' bad side for good reason IMO.

The Soviets invaded My Home City, State of Manchuria after the end of WWII to drive out the Japanese. Then in 1969 I remember our PLA moving in, to drive out the Soviets.
There was an agreement signed I think in the early 90's reestablishing the China Border and My City was renamed Harbin.
The engagements between Russia and China in the 70's was not bad, not a war really as I remember it.

But at that time, China had rebuilt it's military after the conflict with America in Korea, when America pushed N. Korean Army to the Border of China and into China, The Chairman was worried that America would not stop and invade China.
So, China attacked and pushed The NATO Forces back to a Stalemate.

Is it Wise To Cross China or Refuse China's Assistance?  No, it's better to have a Large Strong Friend in that region of the World.
It's Simple Really, for the past 8 years American has been seen as Weak and Not Keeping Promises Made, Plus Nation Leaders have seen Our Old Administration Not Act When They Had Declared a red Line In The Sand and When This line Was Crossed,,, Well,,,, It Was Ignored.

Plus they watched as China built up it's forces and built that Military Island in the China Seas, The Old Administration did nothing to try and stop it, except, Asking Nicely To Stop!
The Asian Countries watched as the Western Nation allowed in People Who Hate Them and Our Own Country Not Only Allowed In People Who Hate Us, But People From a Southern Neighbors who Defy Our Laws and Degrade Our Country and Dain Our Social Systems.

Do we here about Open Borders In China?
Not Very Likely.

They all have seen us as Weak and Not Dependable.

JMHO