Synopsis: Phnom Penh strengthens its partnership with Beijing while reiterating its intent to resolve border issues peacefully through international law and diplomacy rather than military confrontation.
Cambodia and China have agreed to pursue a comprehensive security partnership following Senate President Hun Sen’s visit to Beijing, prompting Thailand to express confidence that China would remain neutral and avoid taking sides in the border dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbours.
During his June 25-27 visit, Mr Hun Sen met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC).
In a joint statement issued after the visit, Cambodia and China said they would establish a comprehensive security partnership and deepen cooperation in law enforcement, defence and other security sectors.
In response to the announcement, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said Cambodia’s engagement with China was a normal part of bilateral relations, adding that Beijing would not interfere in the border dispute.
“I believe China knows how it should position itself,” Sihasak said. “Bilateral relations between China and Cambodia are normal, but China also knows it should avoid doing anything that could affect the conflict.”
Xi said China regards Cambodia as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy, adding Beijing supports the country’s efforts to protect national sovereignty and security while pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions.
Sihasak said the Thai public should not overreact to reports originating from Cambodia.
“Don’t be swayed by every report. Some of the news comes from Cambodia and is intended to favour its own position,” he said.
Responding to reports that Cambodia was seeking to purchase ammunition from China, Sihasak said such defence cooperation had been agreed upon previously and was unrelated to the border tensions.
“China has interests in Cambodia, including existing cooperation such as military facilities, but that should not affect the Thailand-Cambodia situation or signal support for either side. I believe China understands this well,” he said.
Sihasak said the compulsory conciliation process under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) would continue, and added that Thailand would assess the outcome based on whether it was fair and consistent with national interests.
Government spokesman Pen Bona said yesterday the government would continue pursuing peaceful negotiations and exercising restraint in resolving border issues while encouraging support for locally made products to strengthen economic resilience.
Bona said the government remained committed to resolving border disputes through international law rather than military action to protect civilians and the economy.
“In safeguarding Cambodia’s territorial integrity, the government continues to uphold peaceful negotiations and exercise the utmost restraint, making full use of international law as the basis for resolving disputes,” he said.
“Experience has clearly shown that border wars not only destroy opportunities for the tourism sector but also force the state to divert national budget resources toward purchasing weapons and military equipment instead of investing in the country’s socio-economic development.”
Bona said there was a need for greater support for domestic production to strengthen the economy.
“An important part of strengthening the nation is promoting domestic production and supporting locally made products as substitutes for imported goods,” he said.
He said factories and enterprises should focus on becoming more self-reliant by improving production capacity, product quality and competitiveness.
“True sustainability can only be achieved by improving capacity, product quality and maintaining reasonable prices, thereby ensuring the confidence and continued support of consumers, especially our own Cambodian people,” he said.
According to the Cambodian People’s Party, Mr Hun Sen and Xi agreed to further deepen the Cambodia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and accelerate key bilateral initiatives.
The two leaders said they were committed to strengthening party-to-party relations and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.
The joint statement said both sides agreed to inject momentum into building the Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era by implementing the Diamond Cooperation Framework and accelerating the development of the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sovereign equality, independence, mutual respect, non-interference in internal affairs, respect for international law and multilateralism, it said.
They also said they would advance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and support China’s Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative.
