Voice of Vietnam radio said June 20 that there is “no tension” along the border between Cambodia and Vietnam and called the recent allegations by some Cambodian parliamentarians of Vietnamese border violations a “farce.”
The radio report said the alleged border tension “is to serve a political scheme and stimulate hatred among the Vietnamese and Cambodian peoples.”
“This move is unacceptable,” Voice of Vietnam said.
Border issues between the two countries have been a top political issue over the last month, with one parliamentary delegation visiting Svay Rieng province May 30 to investigate alleged land encroachments by Vietnamese farmers.
Cambodian and Vietnamese officials concluded border talks in Phnom Penh June 19, agreeing to submit proposals to their governments to open and upgrade six new official border crossings.
Last week, several National Assembly lawmakers announced a plan to form an independent border commission which would look into border demarcation disputes. The lawmakers complained that the Council of Minister’s Joint Border Commission does not share enough information.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khau restated their governments’ respect for each other’s “territorial integrity” in letters exchanged last month marking the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
“The relationship of traditional friendship between our two countries [is based] on the principles of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity [and] non-interference into each other’s internal affairs,” Phan Van Khau wrote.
