Despite stronger economic ties, democracy still a thorny issue in Cambodia-US relationship
Washington and Cambodia have expanded economic ties over recent years, with the country sending a third of its exports to the US.
Channel News Asia | 16 February 2016
US President Barack Obama greets Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun
Sen (L) upon arrival at Sunnylands estate for a meeting of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on February 15, 2016 in
Rancho Mirage, California.
WASHINGTON: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived in
California on Monday (Feb 15) for the start of a two-day US-ASEAN
Summit, on his first official visit to the US.
Washington and Cambodia have expanded economic ties over recent years, with the country sending a third of its exports to the US. With exports worth almost US$3 billion, there is added incentive for the US to grow Cambodia’s economy.
“What the (US) is trying to do is to be able to promote stability (in Cambodia) by raising the income level, the economic development and hopefully political development,” said John Brandon of The Asia Foundation.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Prime Minister Hun Sen just last month, and praised deepening ties between the two countries.
“I am very conscious of how much progress has been made and how far we have travelled in our relationship,” said Mr Kerry.
However, a lack of democracy in Cambodia is a point of concern for Washington.
“Human rights remains a central part of the agenda and the central concern for the United States,” said Meredith Miller of the Albright Stonebridge Group.
Mr Kerry also met with President Hun Sen’s opposition and has been pushing for him to allow full freedom of speech, as well as the freedom for Cambodians to protest against him and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
“Those issues do remain an irritant on both sides and I think it’s a major factor for Cambodia’s weariness in the past in terms of building closer relations with the US,” said Ms Miller.
When Prime Minister Hun Sen won his fourth term in 2013, claims of electoral fraud led to anger and protests. As he runs for his fifth term in two years’ time, Washington will be watching closely.
“There will always be irritants in the bilateral relationship,” said Mr Brandon. “I think those irritants will be more pronounced if there (isn’t) a free and fair election in 2018.”
Washington and Cambodia have expanded economic ties over recent years, with the country sending a third of its exports to the US. With exports worth almost US$3 billion, there is added incentive for the US to grow Cambodia’s economy.
“What the (US) is trying to do is to be able to promote stability (in Cambodia) by raising the income level, the economic development and hopefully political development,” said John Brandon of The Asia Foundation.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Prime Minister Hun Sen just last month, and praised deepening ties between the two countries.
“I am very conscious of how much progress has been made and how far we have travelled in our relationship,” said Mr Kerry.
However, a lack of democracy in Cambodia is a point of concern for Washington.
“Human rights remains a central part of the agenda and the central concern for the United States,” said Meredith Miller of the Albright Stonebridge Group.
Mr Kerry also met with President Hun Sen’s opposition and has been pushing for him to allow full freedom of speech, as well as the freedom for Cambodians to protest against him and his ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
“Those issues do remain an irritant on both sides and I think it’s a major factor for Cambodia’s weariness in the past in terms of building closer relations with the US,” said Ms Miller.
When Prime Minister Hun Sen won his fourth term in 2013, claims of electoral fraud led to anger and protests. As he runs for his fifth term in two years’ time, Washington will be watching closely.
“There will always be irritants in the bilateral relationship,” said Mr Brandon. “I think those irritants will be more pronounced if there (isn’t) a free and fair election in 2018.”
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