Cambodia Kicks U.S. Military Unit Out, Accepts $157 Million From China

[surya kiran]

blaming Trump for this really?? pretty sure Bush and Obama weakened the U.S with 14 years of constant war.

if China wants to step in and give these countries money by all means.

American military spending as % of GDP has come down from 5.3% in the late 1980s to approx 3.3% in 2015. There was a spike between 2000 and 2010, when it was at a highest of 4.4. Still not as high as the Cold War. Bush and Obama have not been the only Presidents who have been at war. Before this was the Gulf War, before that was the Cold War. So to blame it on war is naive.

Now, I call it Trump because he is the POTUS. I can call it the US Administration if it makes you feel any better. The further the US administration withdraws itself from global trade agreements and trade, lesser will be those countries inclination towards the American administration. And the current administration seems hell bent on creating more nuisance effect than actual diplomacy and trade.

 

[Awan68]

I know that Pakistan is hard pressed to get a worse reputation than it has in the American view.

The difference is that the US gave financial assistance, and China provides loans.
Holding back financial assistance give very little leverage.
Terminating loans gives a lot more leverage.

We dont give a flying ***** how the Us views us, they had their interests, we had ours, bth sides tried to milk each other to the max and backstabbing is the traditional norm in Pak Us relations, what financial aid, we knew what they were doing while presenting a helping face with the peanuts they were dispensing, they engineered an entire invasion aka the afghan one to establish a network of cia/raw assets in afghanistan from where to launch ttp like terrorists in pak, in the resulting war we lost close to 80-90 billion dollars and the lost 10 years of growth when all investors ran away due to fear of terrorism, anyways they failed in breaking us, we f ucked them in afghanistan appearing to be allies while they were trying to f uck us with ttp n bla, we can get anything we like defence related from china now, hell we are getting more and more selfsufficient in big ticket items due to collaboration with china, remember it was the americans that cancelled the f 16 deal which forced us to venture into jf 17 with china and i thank Us for it as now we have a platform of our own which will have aesa irst etc very soon, we will get 5th gen evey soon on in the shape of j31, so we have our parrameters lined up and why should the chinese offer us aid?? Terrorism has been defeated in pak economy is booming and growing again, what we need is fdi which china is providing on an unprecendented scale, doesnt matter if half of it is loans, there is no freelunch and the infrastructure, power generation and industrial revolution we will achieve due to cpec is a corner stone to us becoming an economic power house, dont lecture us on debt when the Us itself is in debt of trillions, we will control the most valuble trade route in the bear future, the transit fees alone will be massive, entire pakistan has been almost connected on micro and macro scale already by cpec, thousands of kms of motorways have been built coupled with railway tracks and upgradation, numerous industrial zones are bieng established, countless power geneartions projects are underway which wiol rid us of powershort fallnnear 2018, we have also signed agreements with chinese to develop the entire indus basin with 50 billon dollars more to generate 40000 mw to cater to future massive industry coupled with the end of threat of water scarcity by building numerous reservoirs and dams, Us can only point and moan now and by the way no attempt by those with nefrarious designs towards cpec will halt it ever...

 

[terranMarine]

now you are taking care of our dog. give him good dog food.

i wasn't aware PH was US dog

 

[hit&run&hitagain]

Though the world is interdependent but is there small countries who run their affairs like foreign policy, defence and trade independently with the high quotient of self-respect ??

It is quite sad to see small nation these days take pride in debt and petting by bigger nations.

 

[Shotgunner51]

wealthier nations including the U.S. have together poured billions of dollars into Cambodia’s development ... Over the first decade of this century, net inward flows of official development assistance and aid totaled $6.24 billion ... In 2002 alone, foreign donors paid between $50 million and $70 million for 740 foreign consultants"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/us-foreign-aid-cambodia_n_2160979.html

Yes, the ODA amount quoted is indeed from many nations including Australia, South Korea, Germany, France and Singapore who are also major ODA donors to Cambodia, and always Japan is the single largest donor by a long shot. Other than bilateral ODA directly from donor nations, there are ODA through multilateral orgs, close to 40% by special fund under Japan-led Asian Development Bank, rest from GFATM, IDA, EU as well as UN orgs like UNICEF and UNDP, etc. US aid is far from being dominant, not even close.

US itself is in debt of trillions

True, in fact US public debt as percentage of GDP is even deeper than Cambodia, let's not mention absolute size. However since USD is international reserve currency hence high value, deficit and debt stricken US has no debt limit so they can still provide some amount of "aid" to Cambodia.

 

[windywine]

blaming Trump for this really?? pretty sure Bush and Obama weakened the U.S with 14 years of constant war.

if China wants to step in and give these countries money by all means.

Agree. Cambodia is not a candidate for TPP anyway. It is wrong to simply blame Trump for this in regard to the withdrawal from TPP.

 

[meis]

Good riddance. And to ensure Vietnam doesn't get to close to Cambodia.

 

[Jlaw]

"When You are in debt, You are not free" (Göran Persson former PM Sweden)

The Chinese just need to threaten to cancel the debt, and the Cambodians will be grovelling.
Pakistan should beware of their "friend".

yup, muricans definitely not free.

The Us is like that intolerable "massi", they definately have more money to throw around than china but they just wont, they like to sit on it and demand subjugation lol, it worked until there was a softer alternative, an alternative that was generous i.e china.

US is 21 trillion I debt. If Japan, KSA stop buying their junk t bill, the USD would sink faster than an Indian boat on dock

i wasn't aware PH was US dog

That's how murucans view their ally PH

 

[Beast]

I know that Pakistan is hard pressed to get a worse reputation than it has in the American view.

The difference is that the US gave financial assistance, and China provides loans.
Holding back financial assistance give very little leverage.
Terminating loans gives a lot more leverage.

What a dumb logic. How much is US financial assistance? USD 50billlio ?

What can those US peanuts do? Probably bribe those Pakistanis politician and the money will never reach the ordinary.

China USD 50billion is used to build power station port, roads and housing. You loser will claim ordinary Pakistanis will never has the chance to use those roads or electricity generated.

 

[TaiShang]

Li, Cambodian PM witness signing of 13 agreements
By An Baijie and Zhang Yue | China Daily | Updated: 2017-05-17


China signed 13 cooperation documents with Cambodia on Tuesday in areas such as infrastructure, finance, maritime research and tourism as the two countries moved forward to build the Belt and Road.

Witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the plans, agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in Beijing. Hun Sen is on a five-day official visit to China, during which he attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

During the talks, Li highlighted the China-Cambodia friendship cultivated over time by leaders of both nations. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia last year helped develop the two countries' friendship under the new global politics and economic status, Li said.

Noting that China is dedicated to upgrading the level of cooperation with Cambodia, Li expressed a willingness to connect development strategies and improve the quality and quantity of trade between the two countries.

China would like to cooperate with Cambodia on key projects related to production capacity, investment and agriculture, which would help Cambodia develop its economy and improve the people's livelihoods, Li said.

The premier also proposed enhancing defense and law-enforcement cooperation and strengthening exchanges in areas including education, tourism, protection of historical relics, medicine and health.

China supports Cambodia playing a positive role through regional and subregional platforms to establish a stable, peaceful and prosperous communities of shared destiny, Li said.

Next year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, and Cambodia will host the second meeting of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative.

Calling Hun Sen "an old friend of the Chinese people", Li said Hun Sen's official visit is expected to inject new impetus to China-Cambodia relations.

Cambodia cherishes the traditional friendship with China, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia would like to implement all the agreements reached by the leaders of the both sides.

The two countries should keep high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, water projects, science and technology, tourism, law enforcement and security, Hun Sen said.

The Cambodian prime minister offered congratulations on the success of the Belt and Road Forum.

Cambodia is willing to push forward the development of China-ASEAN relations and enhance the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative, Hun Sen said.

Liu Zhenmin, vice-foreign minister, said the Cambodian prime minister's visit is "fruitful and of great significance" as the two side reached wide consensus on jointly building the Belt and Road, infrastructure, maritime cooperation, tourism and trade.

Mentioning that the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, constructed by China, is developing well, Liu said that Chinese companies will expand investment in Cambodia.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

***

Nothing can withstand developmentalism.

 

[Khanate]

The news may, or may not, have something to do with this:

• Anger in Cambodia as US wants 50-year-old debt repaid

I know that Pakistan is hard pressed to get a worse reputation than it has in the American view.

The difference is that the US gave financial assistance, and China provides loans.
Holding back financial assistance give very little leverage.
Terminating loans gives a lot more leverage.

Even neutrals like me see "assistance" as part of the problem because more often than not it ends up in the wrong hands. Worse, it creates a cycle of dependence.

So of those Billions coming from China, 80% will come from private companies,
mostly Chinese, which will result in China owning a lot of stuff in Pakistan,
and beeing able to get income from ordinary Pakistanis (nothing basically wrong in this)
It will become more or less a monopoly situation though, and we know how monopolies work.

The rest will come in the form of loans, providing the leverage that was mentioned
in my first posts.
I am sure China will benefit a lot, and so will Pakistan, as long as it will work for China.
If, when there is a conflict between China's and Pakistani's interest, then the loans
come into play.

I don't entirely get your argument. Unilever owns a lot stuff in Pakistan. So does Nestle. Even Turks have made investments. We are a free market economy. So what if China or Chinese investors owns a lot of stuff in Pakistan? How is Huawei different from other MNCs? As long as these MNCs pay their taxes and create jobs, no one cares which penny goes where since it is largely irrelevant.

Li, Cambodian PM witness signing of 13 agreements
By An Baijie and Zhang Yue | China Daily | Updated: 2017-05-17


China signed 13 cooperation documents with Cambodia on Tuesday in areas such as infrastructure, finance, maritime research and tourism as the two countries moved forward to build the Belt and Road.

Witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, the plans, agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed in Beijing. Hun Sen is on a five-day official visit to China, during which he attended the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

During the talks, Li highlighted the China-Cambodia friendship cultivated over time by leaders of both nations. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia last year helped develop the two countries' friendship under the new global politics and economic status, Li said.

Noting that China is dedicated to upgrading the level of cooperation with Cambodia, Li expressed a willingness to connect development strategies and improve the quality and quantity of trade between the two countries.

China would like to cooperate with Cambodia on key projects related to production capacity, investment and agriculture, which would help Cambodia develop its economy and improve the people's livelihoods, Li said.

The premier also proposed enhancing defense and law-enforcement cooperation and strengthening exchanges in areas including education, tourism, protection of historical relics, medicine and health.

China supports Cambodia playing a positive role through regional and subregional platforms to establish a stable, peaceful and prosperous communities of shared destiny, Li said.

Next year marks the 15th anniversary of China-ASEAN strategic partnership, and Cambodia will host the second meeting of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative.

Calling Hun Sen "an old friend of the Chinese people", Li said Hun Sen's official visit is expected to inject new impetus to China-Cambodia relations.

Cambodia cherishes the traditional friendship with China, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia would like to implement all the agreements reached by the leaders of the both sides.

The two countries should keep high-level exchanges and enhance cooperation in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, water projects, science and technology, tourism, law enforcement and security, Hun Sen said.

The Cambodian prime minister offered congratulations on the success of the Belt and Road Forum.

Cambodia is willing to push forward the development of China-ASEAN relations and enhance the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation initiative, Hun Sen said.

Liu Zhenmin, vice-foreign minister, said the Cambodian prime minister's visit is "fruitful and of great significance" as the two side reached wide consensus on jointly building the Belt and Road, infrastructure, maritime cooperation, tourism and trade.

Mentioning that the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone in Cambodia, constructed by China, is developing well, Liu said that Chinese companies will expand investment in Cambodia.

Contact the writers at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

***

Nothing can withstand developmentalism.

Infrastructure? I thought Cambodia was part of the maritime route. Are these investments bilateral?

 

[jhungary]

First of all, there are two thing involved. SeaBee was working on humanitarian mission in Cambodia, what does that mean? They are building classroom for school, toilet for school, out-patient clinic for general public. Their contract with Cambodia was already due to expire this year, Cambodia did not kick the US out, they finish their contract, they don't have more for the SeaBee, the SeaBee goes.

Second of all, the Chinese contract is for commercial development, the 150 millions contract is for building infrastructure like road, bridging, housing and large complex, unless you are asking the CB to build them for free for Cambodia, they will need to find someone who would. CB have small construction project with Cambodia only, no more than 5 millions have beem given as aid and construction cost for 9 years. Unless you are saying Cambodian replacing building latrine for school with building road, those two are not compatible.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=39669

KEP, Cambodia (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4's Detail Cambodia held ribbon cutting ceremonies marking the completion of two projects, Dec. 5.

The ceremonies, for a bathroom facility at the Hun Sen Chamkar Daung High School in Kep Province and a two-room maternity ward at the Russey Srok Health Center in Kampot, recognized two months of joint construction efforts between the Seabees and Army Engineers from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF).

Julie Chung, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, and Lt. Gen. Pen Ra, deputy commander of RCAF Engineering Forces, attended the ceremonies.

The ribbon cutting events provided the crews and local community an opportunity to recognize the completion of the facilities. The ceremonies highlighted the contributions of U.S. Navy Seabees, RCAF engineers, the United States Embassy in Phnom Penh, and local ministries and districts that made the projects possible.

The events started with the first ribbon cutting at Hun Sen Chamkar Daung High School where the school's chorus welcomed guests with the Cambodian National Anthem. Speeches by distinguished visitors lauded the accomplishments of the military engineers and the improvements the bathroom facility made to the school.

Chung remarked that the new facility, which doubles the number of toilets previously available to the school's 850 students, meets a basic sanitation and health need and allows the students to better focus on their learning and personal development.

"We are thankful to the American Embassy and military for the wonderful building they have provided us," said Long Sophea, the school's director. "We promise to diligently maintain this new facility to ensure it serves the students of Hun Sen Chamkar Daung for years to come."

Shortly after the first ceremony, the Seabees and VIPs went to the Russey Srok Health Center in nearby Kampot to commemorate the newly constructed maternity ward. A live band and more than 100 locals greeted the entourage to show their appreciation for the detail's efforts.

The two-room maternity ward will improve maternal health care for 10 villages with dedicated rooms for pre and postnatal care. Built with innovative water catchment and solar power systems, the facility also provides critical utilities needed by the ward.

"Infant mortality in Cambodia is amongst the highest in the world and this new facility will support our ministry's continued efforts to reduce that rate," said Tang Cheng, deputy director of the Kampot Ministry of Health. "We have drastically decreased infant mortality since 2005 and look to continue that trend in Kampot and Cambodia."

Lt. Gen. Pen Ra added remarks, highlighting the strong bond the Seabees and RCAF have developed over the past two months of construction and pledging his support for continued partnerships between the two units.

Concluding the ceremony, the local community delivered a resounding applause in appreciation. The partnerships built by the detail and the RCAF have left an impression in the southern province that the Seabees plan to replicate across Cambodia.

"The hospitality and warm welcome we receive by the local communities is incredible and these ribbon cutting ceremonies allow us to celebrate with those who appreciate our work the most," said Lt. j.g. Joseph DeMarzo, officer-in-charge of the detail. "We are incredibly proud and honored to serve these communities and work with our RCAF engineering counterparts."

The Seabees of NMCB 4's Detail Cambodia plan to complete two additional bathroom facilities in Sihanoukville and Kampot provinces before February, and they will continue to work in partnership with RCAF Army engineers to support U.S. Embassy initiatives to improve sanitation conditions and maternal health care across Cambodia.

For more news from Naval Construction Group 1, visit www.navy.mil/local/ncg1/.

U. S had troops in Cambodia? Never heard that.

Since November 2008

US send Navy Construction Battalion (CB - or SeaBee) to Cambodia as a friendly gesture and started a humanilitian mission along with USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to increase the living standard of Cambodia. The Battalion was rotated every half year and the Last Project finished Dec 2016.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=39669

 

[TaiShang]

Infrastructure? I thought Cambodia was part of the maritime route. Are these investments bilateral?

Yes, bilateral.

SEA can be both Road and Belt. There is a Road extending to continental SEA.

Maritime SEA is part of the Belt. In this sense, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar can benefit immensely from both Road and Belt.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

I don't entirely get your argument. Unilever owns a lot stuff in Pakistan. So does Nestle. Even Turks have made investments. We are a free market economy. So what if China or Chinese investors owns a lot of stuff in Pakistan? How is Huawei different from other MNCs? As long as these MNCs pay their taxes and create jobs, no one cares which penny goes where since it is largely irrelevant.

The point is that aid is not the same thing as private investments or loans.

 

[mike2000 is back]

Since November 2008

US send Navy Construction Battalion (CB - or SeaBee) to Cambodia as a friendly gesture and started a humanilitian mission along with USNS Mercy Hospital Ship to increase the living standard of Cambodia. The Battalion was rotated every half year and the Last Project finished Dec 2016.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=39669

No wonder, so it's not really troops or military base per se. Just a humanitarian /friendly exchange mission I suppose.
Another sensationlist PDF article as I thought[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]