Sino-Cambodian relations

The bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the People's Republic of China have strengthened considerably after the end of the Cambodian-Vietnamese War, during which China had supported the Khmer Rouge against Vietnam.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17]

Background

Although they do not share a continguous border, China has had a historic cultural and commercial relationship with Cambodia. Ethnic Chinese constitute approximately 3-5% of Cambodia's population or 350,000, and although they were discriminated against by the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnamese, they have re-emerged as a prominent business community.cite web |author=Thomas Lum |title=Cambodia: Background and U.S. relations |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32986.pdf |format=PDF |pages=14-16 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China has served Cambodia as a counterweight to the dominating influence of Vietnam. In the mid-20th century, Communist China supported the Cambodian Communist Khmer Rouge against U.S. forces during the Vietnam War and its take-over of Cambodia in 1975. When Vietnamese forces invaded Cambodia the year later, China provided extensive political and military support for the Khmer Rouge.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] In 1979, Chinese forces waged a brief border war against Vietnam, partly to threaten Vietnam into pulling out of Cambodia.cite web |url=http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+vn0111) |title=Vietnam - China |accessdate=2008-06-03 |publisher=U.S. Library of Congress] After Vietnam's withdrawal from Cambodia and the U.N.-sponsored elections in 1993, China recognized and supported the new democratic government.

Development of bilateral relations

Since 1997, China began developing closer relations with the regime of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had actually been a pro-Vietnamese leader and a defector from the Khmer Rouge during Vietnam's occupation of Cambodia.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] Although initially backing Hun Sen's political opponent Prince Norodom Ranariddh and his FUNCINPEC, China was disenchanted with Ranaridh's efforts to build a closer relationship with Taiwan, which is claimed by China.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] Facing international isolation after the 1997 coup that brought him to power, Hun Sen cultivated close ties with China, which opposed efforts by Western countries to impose economic sanctions on Cambodia.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China's close ties with Cambodia have also served to gain leverage against Vietnamese influence in the region.cite web |title=China gives Cambodia $600 in aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4890400.stm |date=2006-04-08 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-06-17] Cambodia has severed all links with Taiwan and has strongly supported the reunification of Taiwan with China.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

During the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao between April 7-April 8, 2006 both nations signed several bilateral agreements and a treaty of "Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation."cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China diversified its aid and investments in Cambodia and promised to provide USD 600 million in loans and grants.cite web |title=China gives Cambodia $600 in aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4890400.stm |date=2006-04-08 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China has canceled much of Cambodia's debt and granted a fresh loan of USD 12.4 million for the construction of the building housing the Cambodian government's council of ministers and the restoration of the Angkor Wat temple and heritage site.cite web |title=China gives Cambodia $600 in aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4890400.stm |date=2006-04-08 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] About USD 200 million has been earmarked as a low-interest loan for the construction of bridges spanning the Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers. China has cultivated strong ties with Cambodia, gaining access to its sea ports that can allow China to exploit oil reserves in the Gulf of Tonkin. During the visit, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen described China as Cambodia's "most trustworthy friend."cite web |title=China gives Cambodia $600 in aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4890400.stm |date=2006-04-08 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17]

China has also cultivated military ties. In the aftermath of the 1997 coup, China provided USD 2.8 million in military aid and has since supplied wide range of military equipment, training of military and police cadre and naval vessels to combat drug trafficking and piracy.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China has also funded Chinese language schools in Cambodia.cite web |author=Thomas Lum |title=Cambodia: Background and U.S. relations |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32986.pdf |format=PDF |pages=14-16 |accessdate=2008-06-17] Immigration of Chinese workers to Cambodia has also stepped up in recent years and is estimated between 50,000 to 300,000.cite web |author=Thomas Lum |title=Cambodia: Background and U.S. relations |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32986.pdf |format=PDF |pages=14-16 |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17]

Commerce

Trade between Cambodia and China totaled USD 732 million in 2006.cite web |author=Thomas Lum |title=Cambodia: Background and U.S. relations |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32986.pdf |format=PDF |pages=14-16 |accessdate=2008-06-17] However, Cambodia has a significant trade deficit of USD 632 million with China as 60% of products in Cambodian markets are Chinese-made.cite web |author=Thomas Lum |title=Cambodia: Background and U.S. relations |url=http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL32986.pdf |format=PDF |pages=14-16 |accessdate=2008-06-17] By 2004, 16.5% of Cambodia's imports, valued USD $527 million came from China, excluding almost 20% of imports coming from Hong Kong and worth USD 615 million.cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] China's Sino-Hydropower Corporation began a USD 280 million project to construct a 193- [megawatt] Kamchay hydroelectric power station - reportedly the biggest foreign investment project in Cambodian history.cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] China's government and businesses have invested in as many as 243 major projects worth USD 925 million in agriculture, mining, oil refineries, metals, automobiles, ports, garments and tourism.cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] The China National Overseas Oil Corporation (CNOOC) have sought to launch projects for oil exploration and exploiting of Cambodia's hydrocarbon reserves.cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17]

Concerns

China's dominant participation in Cambodia's economy, its close cultivation of ties with the Cambodian government and the influx of Chinese immigrants has raised concerns about an anti-Chinese backlash from Cambodians, many of whom resent China for its support of the Khmer Rouge, which conducted a genocide that claimed the lives of more than 1.7 million Cambodians.cite web |title=China gives Cambodia $600 in aid |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4890400.stm |date=2006-04-08 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] The Cambodian government's suppression of the Falun gong, a religious group banned by China, and extradition of 2 Falungong activists to China was criticized by human rights activities and the U.N. commission for refugees.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] China's influence is suspected to be shielding the pro-China Khmer Rouge leaders from standing trial for crimes against humanity.cite journal |last=Storey |first=Ian |year=2006 |month=April |title=China's tightening relationship with Cambodia |journal=China Brief |volume=6 |issue=9 |url=http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=415&issue_id=3704&article_id=2371023 |accessdate=2008-06-17] Suspected preferential treatment for Cambodia-based Chinese firms and the National Assembly of Cambodia's guarantee of profits for the Chinese investors in the Kamchay power plant has also provoked widespread criticism of China's growing political clout in Camboda.cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17] cite web |title=China's growing influence in Cambodia |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HJ06Ae01.html |date=2006-10-06 |publisher=Asia Times |accessdate=2008-06-17]

References