12-16-2018, 12:03 AM
*** 16-Dec-18 World View -- Cambodia denies major China-funded seaport project is a military base
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Cambodia denies major China-funded seaport project is a military base
****
![[Image: g181215b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g181215b.jpg)
China is building a massive deep-water seaport project in Cambodia's Koh Kong province along the Gulf of Thailand
Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen has been forced repeatedly
to deny that China was building a military naval base in Koh Kong
province on the Gulf of Thailand. A naval base in that location
would give China commanding control of the southern part of
the South China Sea, which it currently is occupying in violation
of international law.
China has long been Cambodia's top provider of military equipment.
For years, there has been a Chinese-built $3.8 billion land project in
Koh Kong province in Cambodia, along the Gulf of Thailand. The
project was begun a decade ago, operating under a 99-year lease
granted to China. The land project contains a deep-water port which
is said to be deep enough to potentially accommodate not just
container ships, but Chinese navy frigates and destroyers as well.
A report last month in Asia Times said that the naval base was already
under construction, forcing Hun Sen to make a denial:
<QUOTE>"I also received a letter from U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence raising concerns of the possible presence of a Chinese
naval base in Cambodia in the future.
“I want to make clear to our compatriots and foreign friends that
Cambodia will not violate its own constitution. Cambodia’s
Constitution prohibits the presence of foreign armies or military
bases inside the country ... Cambodia will not permit any foreign
military base for a navy, army or air force.<END QUOTE>
That Hun Sen is unwilling to violate Cambodia's constitution
is laughable. Earlier this year, his party won a national
parliamentary election, taking all 125 parliamentary seats that
were up for election. He accomplished that amazing feat by
jailing or assassinating political opponents, taking control
of all of the media, closed all radio stations critical of
the government, and ordered the complete dissolution of the
opposition political party -- all of that, presumably, in
violation of the constitution.
The size of land granted to China under the 99 year lease is reported
to be another violation of the constitution. The grant is 45,000
hectares, while Cambodial law limits such concessions to 10,000
hectares.
So, just like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Bashar al-Assad and other
leaders, we can assume that anything that Hun Sen says is a complete
lie, except by accident. At any rate his assurances to Mike Pence
that China is not building a naval base are completely meaningless.
Asia Times and Radio Free Asia and Khmer Times
****
**** Cambodia is becoming increasingly Chinese and military
****
Sihanoukville, which is in Preah Sihanouk province on the southern
border of Koh Kong province, used to be a premier seaside resort and
tourist attraction, but has now turned into a Chinese enclave. It's a
visible example of the China's rising domination of Cambodia's
economy. Hun Sen's critics claim that Hun Sen has enabled China's
de facto "colonization" of Cambodia.
Whether or not the Koh Kong deep water seaport will be a Chinese
military base, there's little doubt of China's increasing military
presence in Cambodia. Cambodia is a key country within Beijing's Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI), and the seaport has taken on increasing
significance. China has pledged $100 million in military grants for
training and equipment for the Cambodian military. Sihanoukville has
given itself over entirely to Chinese investment, with a $1.1 billion
investment from China in just the past year. The key complaint for
many in Sihanoukville is that even though Chinese investment brings
wealth, it is mainly kept within their own community.
Cambodia appears to be another victim of China's "debt trap
diplomacy." About half of Cambodia's $6 in foreign debt is owed to
China, and as usual, it's China that has benefited from the
infrastructure projects, leaving Cambodia with little more than a pile
of debt which it will never be able to pay back.
As happened with Sri Lanka's Hambantota seaport, this could give China
complete control over Cambodia's Koh Kong port, and China could use it
as a military naval base whether doing so violates Cambodia's
constitution or not. Asia Times and Reuters (19-Jun) and Asia Times and Diplomat
Related Articles:
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Cambodia, Phnom Penh,
Hun Sen, debt trap, Mike Pence,
Gulf of Thailand, Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Sihanoukville,
Belt and Road Initiative, BRI,
Sri Lanka, Hambantota seaport
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Cambodia denies major China-funded seaport project is a military base
- Cambodia is becoming increasingly Chinese and military
****
**** Cambodia denies major China-funded seaport project is a military base
****
China is building a massive deep-water seaport project in Cambodia's Koh Kong province along the Gulf of Thailand
Cambodia's prime minister Hun Sen has been forced repeatedly
to deny that China was building a military naval base in Koh Kong
province on the Gulf of Thailand. A naval base in that location
would give China commanding control of the southern part of
the South China Sea, which it currently is occupying in violation
of international law.
China has long been Cambodia's top provider of military equipment.
For years, there has been a Chinese-built $3.8 billion land project in
Koh Kong province in Cambodia, along the Gulf of Thailand. The
project was begun a decade ago, operating under a 99-year lease
granted to China. The land project contains a deep-water port which
is said to be deep enough to potentially accommodate not just
container ships, but Chinese navy frigates and destroyers as well.
A report last month in Asia Times said that the naval base was already
under construction, forcing Hun Sen to make a denial:
<QUOTE>"I also received a letter from U.S. Vice President
Mike Pence raising concerns of the possible presence of a Chinese
naval base in Cambodia in the future.
“I want to make clear to our compatriots and foreign friends that
Cambodia will not violate its own constitution. Cambodia’s
Constitution prohibits the presence of foreign armies or military
bases inside the country ... Cambodia will not permit any foreign
military base for a navy, army or air force.<END QUOTE>
That Hun Sen is unwilling to violate Cambodia's constitution
is laughable. Earlier this year, his party won a national
parliamentary election, taking all 125 parliamentary seats that
were up for election. He accomplished that amazing feat by
jailing or assassinating political opponents, taking control
of all of the media, closed all radio stations critical of
the government, and ordered the complete dissolution of the
opposition political party -- all of that, presumably, in
violation of the constitution.
The size of land granted to China under the 99 year lease is reported
to be another violation of the constitution. The grant is 45,000
hectares, while Cambodial law limits such concessions to 10,000
hectares.
So, just like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Bashar al-Assad and other
leaders, we can assume that anything that Hun Sen says is a complete
lie, except by accident. At any rate his assurances to Mike Pence
that China is not building a naval base are completely meaningless.
Asia Times and Radio Free Asia and Khmer Times
****
**** Cambodia is becoming increasingly Chinese and military
****
Sihanoukville, which is in Preah Sihanouk province on the southern
border of Koh Kong province, used to be a premier seaside resort and
tourist attraction, but has now turned into a Chinese enclave. It's a
visible example of the China's rising domination of Cambodia's
economy. Hun Sen's critics claim that Hun Sen has enabled China's
de facto "colonization" of Cambodia.
Whether or not the Koh Kong deep water seaport will be a Chinese
military base, there's little doubt of China's increasing military
presence in Cambodia. Cambodia is a key country within Beijing's Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI), and the seaport has taken on increasing
significance. China has pledged $100 million in military grants for
training and equipment for the Cambodian military. Sihanoukville has
given itself over entirely to Chinese investment, with a $1.1 billion
investment from China in just the past year. The key complaint for
many in Sihanoukville is that even though Chinese investment brings
wealth, it is mainly kept within their own community.
Cambodia appears to be another victim of China's "debt trap
diplomacy." About half of Cambodia's $6 in foreign debt is owed to
China, and as usual, it's China that has benefited from the
infrastructure projects, leaving Cambodia with little more than a pile
of debt which it will never be able to pay back.
As happened with Sri Lanka's Hambantota seaport, this could give China
complete control over Cambodia's Koh Kong port, and China could use it
as a military naval base whether doing so violates Cambodia's
constitution or not. Asia Times and Reuters (19-Jun) and Asia Times and Diplomat
Related Articles:
- China-Cambodia grow closer militarily, as Hun Sen steals parliamentary election (16-Aug-2018)
- Cambodia's China-backed dictator Hun Sen expected to win fraudulent election on Sunday (29-Jul-2018)
- Cambodia's dictatorial Hun Sen forces sale of independent Phnom Penh Post (08-May-2018)
- Cambodia's Hun Sen threatens violence at protesters at ASEAN meeting (18-Mar-2018)
- Cambodia dissolves the opposition political party so that Hun Sen can be reelected unopposed (17-Nov-2017)
- Burma's (Myanmar's) leaders may be inspired by Pol Pot's Cambodian 'Killing Fields' genocide (29-Sep-2017)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, China, Cambodia, Phnom Penh,
Hun Sen, debt trap, Mike Pence,
Gulf of Thailand, Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Sihanoukville,
Belt and Road Initiative, BRI,
Sri Lanka, Hambantota seaport
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
