Cambodia Publicly Endorses China Position on South China Sea | Voice of America

[Martian2]

Reference: Cambodia Publicly Endorses China Position on South China Sea | Voice of America

Cambodia publicly (on March 25, 2015) said the South China Sea is not an ASEAN issue. I think Cambodia made the right decision for three reasons.

1. Pick the winning side. China is the undisputed military, economic, and technological heavyweight in Asia. Siding with the winner is a time-honored tradition.

2. Facts on the ground heavily favor China. China has a huge naval base on Hainan Island. China is building a ring of heavily fortified air and naval bases on reclaimed islands in the South China Sea. Since Chinese control of the South China Sea is inevitable, going along with the flow makes sense.

3. Looking into the future, everyone knows Chinese J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters will be coming to the South China Sea. With a proven and relentless double-digit annual increase in the Chinese military budget, siding with China is the only realistic choice.

In conclusion, Cambodia made a wise realpolitik decision. Bismarck would be proud.

 

[xunzi]

Realistically, they have only two options: cooperate or get out of the way.

 

[Keel]

Cambodia has been supporting us all the way since the Viets and Pinoys et al started to garner consensus against us during ASEAN meetings

Thank you Cambodia

版画 “天坛”
Art print Painting “Temple of Heaven”

 

[terranMarine]

stunning

 

[liubang]

hmm, your 3 reasons are weird. My 2 reasons would be.

1) Cambodia has nothing to gain and isn't a claimant in South China Sea. It doesn't matter if anti China win or China win.
2) By being the first to do this, Cambodia had increase its stock with China (of course, the 2nd or 3rd or whatever value is lower). If just one simple statement can gain some financial aid, why not.

Whatever the outcome, china being assertive in South China Sea had been good for Vietnam. I never recalled at anytime in the past had Vietnam exercise its diplomatic power this much and build up relationships/ties with regional countries.

Cambodia had only 2 options since the beginning either shut up or side with China. There is no benefits to side with the anti China side. Countries like India or Japan would rather court Indonesia or Vietnam (someone more relevant) than Cambodia. So Cambodia did made the better choice of the two.

But let see how it is in the coming day, if it truly that great for Cambodia since Vietnam is right next door. And we do train Cambodia navy. Cambodia may got some scraps here and there from China. But Cambodia is no Iran or Pakistan to China.

 

[LacViet]

China with nine dash claim looks like this. future of this claim is forecasted no needed Cambodia to involve.

 

[Soryu]

Reference: Cambodia Publicly Endorses China Position on South China Sea | Voice of America

Cambodia publicly (on March 25, 2015) said the South China Sea is not an ASEAN issue. I think Cambodia made the right decision for three reasons.

1. Pick the winning side. China is the undisputed military, economic, and technological heavyweight in Asia. Siding with the winner is a time-honored tradition.

2. Facts on the ground heavily favor China. China has a huge naval base on Hainan Island. China is building a ring of heavily fortified air and naval bases on reclaimed islands in the South China Sea. Since Chinese control of the South China Sea is inevitable, going along with the flow makes sense.

3. Looking into the future, everyone knows Chinese J-20 and J-31 stealth fighters will be coming to the South China Sea. With a proven and relentless double-digit annual increase in the Chinese military budget, siding with China is the only realistic choice.

In conclusion, Cambodia made a wise realpolitik decision. Bismarck would be proud.

Wow, great news, big news, we're so surprise ??? Anything else but those swanky words ?
Oh yeah, Cambodia ? And VOA ? LOL

Hunsen and Sam Rainsy can give China best lips service as they can, to get more money and support, but they will not stupid to stand against ASEAN decision - solve the issue by ASEAN solution: COC

Big boy can show off his muscle on his part, but we will not accept your rules.

Indonesian president says China's main claim in South China Sea has no legal basis

"So we support the Code of Conduct (of the South China Sea) and also dialogue between China and Japan, China and ASEAN."
"The 'nine-dashed line' that China says marks its maritime border has no basis in any international law," said Widodo.

 

[sicsheep]

Wow, great news, big news, we're so surprise ??? Anything else but those swanky words ?
Oh yeah, Cambodia ? And VOA ? LOL

Hunsen and Sam Rainsy can give China best lips service as they can, to get more money and support, but they will not stupid to stand against ASEAN decision - solve the issue by ASEAN solution: COC

Big boy can show off his muscle on his part, but we will not accept your rules.

Indonesian president says China's main claim in South China Sea has no legal basis

"So we support the Code of Conduct (of the South China Sea) and also dialogue between China and Japan, China and ASEAN."
"The 'nine-dashed line' that China says marks its maritime border has no basis in any international law," said Widodo.

it has already been explained, Indonesia only against 9 dash line claim, not Chinese claims over paracel or spartly.

Everyone know VN wants to turn SCS dispute into a China - ASEAN problem, but looks like it wont happen, It's just China- VN and China - Philippines.

Half of the countries have no disputes with China, so how can they benefit going against China, What does Vietnam have to offer?

 

[Soryu]

it has already been explained, Indonesia only against 9 dash line claim, not Chinese claims over paracel or spartly.

Everyone know VN wants to turn SCS dispute into a China - ASEAN problem, but looks like it wont happen, It's just China- VN and China - Philippines.

Half of the countries have no disputes with China, so how can they benefit going against China, What does Vietnam have to offer?

Simple, we can accept China position like a great or even superpower, but we will not accept all your rules on ASEAN.
It's geopolitical matter.

 

[LacViet]

WTF! i thought Vietnam controls Cambodia, even have troops in Cambodia?

Vietnam must replace Cambodia administration at once!

he he, we can let our brother play his game. neutral position is no bad. in fact China and Vietnam has agreed that the Paracel Islands will be solve by two party China and Vietnam.

 

[Nike]

Hmm i thought some Vietnam member clearly said they had a very determined and important position and wide scale influence over Cambodia goverment and her foreign policy

 

[LacViet]

Hmm i thought some Vietnam member clearly said they had a very determined and important position and wide scale influence over Cambodia goverment and her foreign policy

Politically, Cambodia is independent state. in fact Vietnam agreed with China this is bilateral problem of China and Vietnam over Paracel. We can't critize our friend here.

For the nine dashed claim of China is related to rules of international law. so international UNCLOS arbitration is related to this dispute. Its clear.

 

[Martian2]

Wow, great news, big news, we're so surprise ??? Anything else but those swanky words ?
Oh yeah, Cambodia ? And VOA ? LOL

Hunsen and Sam Rainsy can give China best lips service as they can, to get more money and support, but they will not stupid to stand against ASEAN decision - solve the issue by ASEAN solution: COC

Big boy can show off his muscle on his part, but we will not accept your rules.

Indonesian president says China's main claim in South China Sea has no legal basis

"So we support the Code of Conduct (of the South China Sea) and also dialogue between China and Japan, China and ASEAN."
"The 'nine-dashed line' that China says marks its maritime border has no basis in any international law," said Widodo.

You can't cherry-pick your news.

The Indonesian president has already backtracked on his statement.
----------

Jokowi Clarifies: Indonesia Still Neutral in S. China Sea Dispute - The Jakarta Globe

"Jokowi Clarifies: Indonesia Still Neutral in S. China Sea Dispute
By Novy Lumanauw on 04:16 pm Mar 24, 2015

Tokyo. President Joko Widodo has reiterated that Indonesia will not side with any country in the ongoing South China Sea dispute.

“I need to declare that Indonesia is not siding with any party involved in the dispute,” Joko told a press conference held during his official visit to Japan on Tuesday.

Previously several international news outlets reported Joko as saying that China had no legal claim over the South China Sea.

Joko said he was only referring to nine-dash line that China has marked and not about South China Sea in general, dismissing any indication that he was opposing China.

The president also said that Indonesia, as part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, remains committed to the proposed Code of Conduct that is aimed at deescalating tensions in the South China Sea.

“If it necessary we are also ready to be a good mediator, that is what I was trying to say,” Joko said."

 

[NiceGuy]

WTF! i thought Vietnam controls Cambodia, even have troops in Cambodia?

Vietnam must replace Cambodia administration at once!

We only control its military forces, they can talk, but they have no power to act

 

[Martian2]

China's strategic interests in the South China Sea

1. After China produces about fifty Type 052C/052D/055 destroyers, we will probably see an attempt by China to close the South China Sea to American warships. Nobody likes foreign nukes in their backyard. This should happen around 2030-2035.

2. The South China Sea is the key to the peaceful recovery of the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. At some point in the future (let's say 2025), China closes the South China Sea to Japanese cargo ships. This means all Japanese cargo ships (and possibly Japanese-bound cargo ships) will have to take a 10,000 mile detour around Australia.

Japan will either have to return the Diaoyu Islands or collapse economically. China can afford to wait.

3. The danger for Vietnam and the Philippines is that China might decide to punish them for all of the trouble they are causing over the South China Sea. China is famous for having a long memory. Around 2025, China may decide to close the South China Sea to Vietnamese and Filipino shipping.

Obviously, by siding with China, Cambodian interests will be protected far into the future in the South China Sea.