A meeting between US President Barack Obama and Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen on November 19 took on added significance given the backdrop of the
21st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, which was held in
the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh in the same week.
Focusing on human rights,
fundamental political freedoms, and electoral democracy in Cambodia, the
conversation was generally described as "tense" by media. Obama
touched a raw nerve by mentioning deteriorating rights situation, the fairness
of upcoming 2013 general elections, and the issue of political prisoners.
Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, who accompanied Obama, said it
will be difficult to deepen bilateral relations if the Cambodian government did
not improve its human-rights record.
However, Obama's visit was not
only about human rights; wider US interests in the region including strategic
and economic relations must be taken into account. The presence of Obama in
Cambodia was a significant event in the two countries' diplomatic relations. It
was the first time a sitting US president visited this small and poor country,
and it reaffirmed the long-term and sustainable US commitment to engagement in
Asia.
US-Cambodia relations are shaped
and framed by the US "pivot to Asia" strategy, which is dynamic and
comprehensive. The strategy covers a wide range of activities including the
strengthening of bilateral security alliances, forging of a broad-based
military presence, engaging regional multilateral institutions, expanding trade
and investment, advancing democracy and human rights, and deepening working
relationships with emerging powers. It is an extension of the US smart power
project, which includes, as suggested by the 2007 CSIS Commission on Smart Power,
five pillars: alliances, partnerships, and institutions; global development;
public diplomacy; economic integration; and technology and innovation.
Issues surrounding human rights
are a key stumbling block in bilateral relations that need to be addressed
objectively and collectively. Since 1992, the US has provided more than US$800
million to strengthen democracy and improve human-rights conditions in
Cambodia. USAID programs have been diversified to include aspects such as
education, public health, infectious disease, food security, climate change,
private-sector competitiveness, and good governance. The US has contributed a
lot to strengthening the role of local civil society organizations in addition
to promoting democratic principles and protecting human rights.
Bilateral relations have steadily
improved since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 1992. Cambodia was
granted Most Favored Nation (MFN) status from the US in 1996 and in 1999 the
two countries signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement (BTA) to link labor
standards with trade. Under such favorable treatment, the US has become the
biggest market for the garments and footwear (about 70%) made in Cambodia. The
industry employs 350,000 people, mostly young women.
The US private sector is very
much interested in expanding and deepening investment and trade with the region
in general and Cambodia in particular. In 2011, US investment in Cambodia was
more than $144 million, triple the amount invested in 2010. In remarks at the
US-ASEAN Business Forum in Siem Reap in July 2012, Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton stated "Our economic ties are already strong. ASEAN and the United
States are large trading partners. Last year, US exports to ASEAN exceeded $76
billion, and that was up 42% since 2009. We have more than twice as much
investment in ASEAN as we do in China. So there is a great deal of potential
for continuing to grow our economic activity."
US-Cambodia defense cooperation
has gained momentum since 2004 after many restrictions were eliminated, paving
the way for direct military-to-military contact and engagement. Training and
capacity building are the key areas of cooperation. Joint training and military
exercises have been conducted regularly under the themes of disaster relief,
counter-terrorism, demining activities, and peacekeeping operations.
During the visit of Cambodian
Defense Minister General Tea Banh to Washington in 2009, Defense Secretary
Robert Gates reaffirmed the commitment to strengthen the capacity of the Royal
Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) in peacekeeping operations, maritime security,
and counter-terrorism. In 2010, Cambodia, with support from the US,
participated in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) program
and co-hosted the Angkor Sentinel with the participation of 1,000 peacekeeping
personnel from more than 20 countries. The second CARAT program was conducted
in October 2012, focusing on maritime security skills such as maritime
interdiction, diving and salvage operations, maneuvering, and disaster response
The annual Bilateral Defense
Dialogue (BDD) established in 2008 is a foundation for dialogue, cooperation,
and confidence-building measures. It focuses on operational topics of mutual
concern and coordination of security cooperation activities. The BDD
illustrates the broadening and deepening of the military-to-military
relationship and is an additional mechanism to further strengthen the bilateral
relationship. In September 2009, Cambodia and the US created a Security
Cooperation Coordination Group that meets regularly to discuss operational
issues involving theater security cooperation.
In addition, there were several
port visits by US naval forces to promote relations between militaries and
strengthen mutual strategic trust between the two countries. The latest visit
was on May 5, 2012 by sailors from the US 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge and
Marines assigned to Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific.
The recent bilateral talks on
November 16 between US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Tea Banh in Siem Reap
provided an opportunity for both countries to elaborate more on defense
cooperation, especially in capacity building of the Royal Cambodian Armed
Forces, cooperation on the recovery US soldiers missing in action from the Vietnam
War-era, and the on new US strategy in the Asia-Pacific. Panetta reaffirmed the
US goal of ensuring that the Asia-Pacific is a zone of peace, stability, and
prosperity, and the commitment to work with ASEAN to increase its capacity to
maintain peace and stability in the region.
US-Cambodia relations have been
improving over the last decade and reflect a promising trend. Defense and
economic cooperation have taken significant steps to build trust and mutual
accommodation with common interests. However, as the recent talks between Obama
and Prime Minister Hun Sen indicated, Cambodia needs to work harder to improve
its record on human rights and democracy to advance relations with the US to a
new level.
It is not a big challenge for the
current Cambodian administration to improve the situation since it has
established a relatively good foundation to promote and protect human rights
and fundamental freedoms. It is a matter of continued political will,
leadership, and participation from the people.
Continued US engagement with
Cambodia on the issue of human rights is necessary but it needs to be more
objective and scientific. Both countries should concentrate on convergent
forces - economic and strategic interests - and continue to sincerely work
together to overcome remaining challenges. It is in the interests of the two
people and the global community of nations to raise the standard of the
universal values of human rights and fundamental freedom. Cambodia and the US
can continue working together on this issue.
In the rapidly changing regional
security and economic environment that is increasingly complex and uncertain,
there is a need to build and nurture trust and confidence. A good and healthy
US-Cambodian relationship can contribute to peace, stability and development in
the Asia Pacific. It would be a serious setback if the human rights issue
overshadows other areas of cooperation and needs to be addressed in a holistic
way.
Vannarith Chheang,
Business & Investment Opportunities
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