It is time for US and Cambodia, in China's shadow, to reset ties

Both sides need to repair rock-bottom relations with frank discussions

Pou Sothirak

August 28, 2019 03:00 JST

20190822 Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.jpg

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands, but Cambodia needs to be careful about its relationship with its more powerful regional neighbor © Reuters

Reports in July that China had reached a deal with Cambodia to establish a military base in the country -- despite denials by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen -- have deepened concerns about a growing great power rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.

The strategic competition between China and the U.S. poses difficult questions for the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, none more so than for Cambodia.