China has done a lot to support Cambodia over the years with millions of
dollars in aid, loans and investment. But after reports this week that China
has pledged another $500 million in soft loans and grants—and publicly thanked
Cambodia for its support in Southeast Asia—Cambodian officials want to be sure
no one suspects the little country is falling too much under China’s sway.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the
Commission on Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit at the Cambodian National
Assembly, said China’s loans have nothing to do with Cambodia’s recent support
for China in disputes involving the South China Sea, parts of which are claimed
by China and several Southeast Asian states. That backing includes a now-famous
episode in July when members of the Association of Southeast Asian nations
failed to reach a consensus on how to resolve conflicts in the sea at their
latest summit in Phnom Penh, failing even to issue their customary joint
communiqué at the end.
Representatives from the
Philippines and other nations blamed Cambodia for resisting any agreement that
would embarrass China, which has long indicated its desire to negotiate
settlements in the South China Sea on a bilateral basis, away from multilateral
forums.
The latest loans are just
“encouragement from China’s premier Wen Jiabao” Mr. Cheam Yeap said, adding
that China doesn’t ask for anything in return. Rather, China just “sees that
Cambodia is in need for [money] to develop the country,” he said. “This is not
the first time that China has provided concessional loans to Cambodia.”
The loans are mainly for
infrastructure, agriculture, irrigation, flood control, and human resource
development, he said.
Mr. Cheam Yeap also said that
reports Cambodia tried to torpedo an agreement at the July summit were unfair.
“It is not like the accusation from other Asean members and the U.S. about the
blockage of a joint communiqué,” he said. Cambodia was “trying” to support a
statement, he said, but it wasn’t possible to agree on one.
According to Reuters, the latest
Chinese loans included four agreements for unspecified projects worth about
$420 million, as well as three additional loan deals worth more than $80
million that are expected to be signed this year. It cited a Cambodian
secretary of state for finance speaking at a recent briefing.
The state-run Xinhua news agency
reported earlier in the week that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao thanked Cambodian
Prime Minister Hun Sen in a weekend meeting for Cambodia’s “important role in
maintaining the overall situation of friendly relations between China and the
Asean.” It went on to say that “China will closely coordinate with Cambodia,
and support the country to make the upcoming series of meetings for East Asian
leaders a success,” an apparent reference to the next Asean summit in November
at which South China Sea disputes are also expected to figure prominently.
In the past, Mr. Hun Sen has
applauded Chinese leaders for extending aid without the usual restrictions that
come with development money from Western nations. Foreign donors have
repeatedly pressed Cambodian officials over the years to reduce corruption and
increase transparency in public affairs, at times suggesting future aid could
be contingent on further progress in those and other areas. They have also
publicly criticized Cambodian leaders for failing to act on recommendations
from Western non-governmental organizations aimed at boosting health, education
and other development standards.
“China talks less but does a
lot,” Mr. Hun Sen said during a speech several years ago, soon after China had
pledged an earlier $600 million in aid. Mr. Hun Sen has also referred to China
in the past as Cambodia’s “most trustworthy friend.”
Patrick Barta
Business & Investment Opportunities
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