The head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, Casey Barnett, says that while both the United States and China provide financial support to Cambodia, their approaches differ significantly. Washington prioritises grants, while Beijing focuses more on loans.
Writing on his personal Facebook page, Mr Barnett noted that the United States has provided Cambodia with both grants and loans since the 1990s. However, he emphasised that the majority of American assistance has come in the form of donations. While some earlier loans remain outstanding, aid from the US has largely been non-repayable.
In contrast, Mr Barnett said Chinese aid to Cambodia, particularly since the year 2000, has primarily consisted of loans. More recently, Beijing has included an increasing number of grants and equity investments. He suggested this may reflect a shift in China’s approach, potentially aimed at limiting Cambodia’s debt burden.
According to Barnett, Chinese assistance has also included money, weapons, clothing, and engineering support.
A new report released today by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia states that between 1990 and 2024, the United States provided Cambodia with over 4.5 billion US dollars in aid. In 2024 alone, American assistance totalled around 55 million dollars.
Over the same period, China is reported to have provided more than 11.8 billion dollars in aid to Cambodia, with the majority classified as concessional loans.
Figures from Cambodia’s Ministry of Economy and Finance show that by the fourth quarter of 2024, the country’s total external debt stood at over 4 billion dollars. Loans from China accounted for roughly 34 percent of that sum. This makes China Cambodia’s largest bilateral creditor.
Since the signing of the Paris Peace Agreements, Cambodia has received ongoing support from the United States to promote development in areas such as the economy, civil society, and democracy. US aid has supported sectors including agriculture, the environment, food security, public health, and education.
Beyond financial assistance, the United States has also offered Cambodia significant access to export markets. Cambodian exports to the US currently total close to 10 billion dollars per year. In addition, Cambodia has benefited from trade privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences, known as GSP.
