Cambodia isn’t actually pro-China at all

Phnom Penh carefully engages Beijing to counterbalance neighbors and maximize largesse in a highly calculated ‘pro-itself’ strategy.

The perception that Cambodia is pro-China has gained traction in recent years. With Cambodia’s increasing economic, security and political reliance on China, it is easy to label the country as a Chinese satellite state.

The data is indeed compelling: Chinese grants to Cambodia surged from US$92.45 million in 2007 to approximately $4.6 billion by 2021. Between 2013 and 2022, China’s cumulative investment in Cambodia reached $12.02 billion.

In 2010, the two sides’ relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with China becoming the first nation to hold such a diplomatic status with Cambodia.

In full: https://asiatimes.com/2024/09/cambodia-isnt-actually-pro-china-at-all/

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