Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives before a plenary session at the National Assembly of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Jan 31, 2017. (Reuters photo)

Hun Sen bans Taiwanese, Tibetan flags in Cambodia

Kyodo News / Bangkok Post | 5 February 2017

PHNOM PENH - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has said that his government will not allow Taiwanese and Tibetan flags to be raised in Cambodia.

Speaking at a friendly dinner with the Cambodian-Chinese Association on Saturday, Hun Sen described Taiwan as simply a province of China, and that the flags of Taiwan and Tibet cannot be raised in Cambodia.

"We shall not do anything that harms the sovereignty and independence of China because of Taiwan," he said, adding that China respects the sovereignty and independence of Cambodia and thus Cambodia must do the same to China.

The premier, however, said that for commercial and trading purpose, Taiwanese activities are welcomed, but not political or diplomatic activities.

Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for 32 years since 1985, has become known as one of the region's strongest supporters of China.

China, meanwhile, has become the biggest source of investments and financial support for Cambodia's infrastructure and economic development.

Taiwan, while independently ruled, is regarded by China as a breakaway province. Tibet, meanwhile, is an autonomous province of China which has been the subject of a strong independence movement.