Kong Sothanarith

FILE - A worker holds a new officially approved map of China that includes the islands and maritime area that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, at a printing factory in Changsha in south China's Hunan province.

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Cambodia Publicly Endorses China Position on South China Sea

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FILE - A worker holds a new officially approved map of China that includes the islands and maritime area that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, at a printing factory in Changsha in south China's Hunan province.
FILE - A worker holds a new officially approved map of China that includes the islands and maritime area that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, at a printing factory in Changsha in south China's Hunan province.

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Kong Sothanarith

March 25, 2015 2:38 PM
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA—

Cambodia's leader has publicly endorsed China's position that territorial disputes in the South China Sea cannot be solved through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday the issue should be solved by the countries directly affected by the disputes.

“Ultimately, it is not an issue for ASEAN as a whole. It is bilateral issue between the concerned countries, which need to talk between themselves," he said.

Beijing has said it only will negotiate territorial disputes in one-on-one negotiations and has rejected any multilateral venue for dealing with the issues.

But the Philippines and Vietnam, both members of ASEAN, have been pushing for a more regional and multi-lateral approach to the problem.

Although this is the first time Cambodia's leader has explicitly stated his position on the issue, Phnom Penh came under fire by some for its handling of the matter while it held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2012.

Referring to the rotating ASEAN chairmanship, Hun Sen defended Cambodia's leadership.

“After Cambodia, Brunei also could not find a solution; Myanmar failed as well. Now I am waiting to see if Malaysia will be able to solve the problem," said Hun Sen. "I can say, it will not be able to do so ... impossible. But they only blamed Cambodia, only Cambodia was wrong. I will wait to see the whole round.”

During the 2012 ASEAN summit, the regional leaders failed to issue a joint declaration. Critics said the failure was caused by Cambodia protecting China's position on the South China Sea issue.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition to Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have territorial disputes with China.

This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Khmer service.







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Comment on this forum (21)
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of 2
Next
by: buuyamericans from: Florida
March 26, 2015 10:06 AM
Reply
The Cambodians don't understand history!

The Chinese, for over a thousand years, threatened the existence of the Vietnamese forcing them to expand South. As a result, the eastern part of Cambodia became annexed by the Vietnamese.

If the Cambodians keep behaving in this manner, soon the whole Cambodia will be annexed by the Vietnamese.
by: buuyamericans from: florida
March 26, 2015 10:00 AM
Reply
The puppet serves his master well.
by: Doodoo
March 26, 2015 8:36 AM
Reply
This is also a ploy by the Viet Cong. Cambodia doesn't sneeze without the VC's permission.
by: Sam from: PP
March 26, 2015 8:22 AM
Reply
Chinese buying the government of Cambodia with their wealth. You can't expect them to not agreed with China because they are getting billion $$$$ of aids and loans. C'mon respect the Cambodian position and if you want them to be on your side spends billions$$$ in Cambodia.
by: Tom from: Lee
March 26, 2015 7:33 AM
Reply
Combodian are disgrace people, without Vietnam commie helps to stop the Khmer Rouge, the population would be extinct by now. Didn't they know that the Chinese was behind Pol Pot as well? The history has repeated itself, if any war break out between Vietnam and China, Combodia will be demolished this time for sure. Half of its land will belong to Thailand, the other half will be taken over by the Viet.
by: Rosauro Feliciano from: Middle East
March 26, 2015 6:55 AM
Reply
From the start Cambodia was out of steps with which the aims of ASEAN were at risk; Cambodia was not allowed to be a member of the ASEAN.
by: Man of Justice from: US
March 26, 2015 4:48 AM
Reply
So sorry that China can buy it with fund!. without Vietnam to shield of the Chinese, Cambodia now is just another Tibet! Pol pot attach several Vietnam towns and end up in history along with his devil-ism killing a million of his people! Sorry they won't get the lesson!
In Response
by: Mary from: usa
March 26, 2015 9:35 AM
Alberto from Hong Kong - Facts are not as 1-sided and intelligent people know China did provide men, materials and others in Vietnam's wars of independence but, Chinese must also realize that Vietnam prevented your "century of humiliation" from becoming "century and 1/2 of humiliation". That said, China is entitled expression of appreciation but not ownership of any Vietnamese territories. It's true 4,000 years ago and it's true today. So, back off and avoid the 17th Chinese expulsion from Vietnam.
In Response
by: Mary from: usa
March 26, 2015 8:06 AM
Si from Spain - Let's not debate south Vietnam any more because without Vietnam's helps, there's not even a Cambodia today. By the way, if Hun Sen keeps taking money and selling out Cambodia to China, Vietnam may have to once again save the Khmer race from being converted to Han(s): extending Vietnamese borders to Thailand and protecting Cambodians like they currently do with 2 millions happy Khmer Vietnamese.
In Response
by: alberto from: Hong Kong
March 26, 2015 7:48 AM
You must be nut without knowing the true facts, China had sent so many soldiers to Vietnam during the war, do you know how many of them died fighting on behalf of the Vietnamese. Vietnam should understand very well, that China soldiers sacrificed their lives to save Vietnam from the American. They not only repay back but provoke war with China, after winning from America. Do you know how many Cambodians were killed by the Vietnamese and right now thousand of them stranded in the Cambodian territory.
In Response
by: si from: spain
March 26, 2015 6:32 AM
south vietnam was part of cambodia. vietnamese is doing all it could to destory all the evidence.
by: tante tan
March 26, 2015 4:10 AM
Reply
ASEAN LEADERS ARE ALL COWARD.
by: Anonymous
March 26, 2015 3:34 AM
Reply
Of course, Hun Sen gov't is a puppet of Beijing
by: Minh from: Sacramento
March 26, 2015 2:37 AM
Reply
Typical Asian, selfish, you are on your own.


News / Asia
Cambodia Publicly Endorses China Position on South China Sea

Print
Comment (21)
Share:

FILE - A worker holds a new officially approved map of China that includes the islands and maritime area that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, at a printing factory in Changsha in south China's Hunan province.
FILE - A worker holds a new officially approved map of China that includes the islands and maritime area that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, at a printing factory in Changsha in south China's Hunan province.

[Pin It>

Related Articles

Philippines Bolsters Arbitration Case Against China
China Slams ASEAN Chief's S. China Sea Comments
China Defends Island Construction in South China Sea
Indonesia, Japan to Sign a Defense Agreement
Senators Seek US Strategy to Stop China's Maritime Reclamations

Kong Sothanarith

March 25, 2015 2:38 PM
PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA—

Cambodia's leader has publicly endorsed China's position that territorial disputes in the South China Sea cannot be solved through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday the issue should be solved by the countries directly affected by the disputes.

“Ultimately, it is not an issue for ASEAN as a whole. It is bilateral issue between the concerned countries, which need to talk between themselves," he said.

Beijing has said it only will negotiate territorial disputes in one-on-one negotiations and has rejected any multilateral venue for dealing with the issues.

But the Philippines and Vietnam, both members of ASEAN, have been pushing for a more regional and multi-lateral approach to the problem.

Although this is the first time Cambodia's leader has explicitly stated his position on the issue, Phnom Penh came under fire by some for its handling of the matter while it held the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2012.

Referring to the rotating ASEAN chairmanship, Hun Sen defended Cambodia's leadership.

“After Cambodia, Brunei also could not find a solution; Myanmar failed as well. Now I am waiting to see if Malaysia will be able to solve the problem," said Hun Sen. "I can say, it will not be able to do so ... impossible. But they only blamed Cambodia, only Cambodia was wrong. I will wait to see the whole round.”

During the 2012 ASEAN summit, the regional leaders failed to issue a joint declaration. Critics said the failure was caused by Cambodia protecting China's position on the South China Sea issue.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In addition to Vietnam and the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have territorial disputes with China.

This report was produced in collaboration with the VOA Khmer service.







Print
Comment (21)
Share:

[Pin It>

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Comment Sorting
Comment on this forum (21)
Comments page
of 2
Previous
by: Fel A Tio from: Cambodia
March 26, 2015 1:39 AM
Reply
Beijing virtually bankrolls Cambodia with billions of dollars. Not surprising!
by: james from: california
March 26, 2015 1:22 AM
Reply
let's be honest here. Cambodia is only relevant because of China. In Cambodia where corruption is out in the open MONEY TALKS. China has been giving millions of dollars to Cambodia. In the past China has given Cambodian politicians money in order to dodge the South China Sea issue during the ASEAN forum. So it is obvious that Cambodia is definitely China's puppet. LMAO
by: dan fender from: manila
March 26, 2015 1:09 AM
Reply
Cambodia is landlocked. If they had a beach with a lot of oil underwater in proximity, their position would likely be somewhat different.
In Response
by: khmerNY from: New York
March 26, 2015 7:24 AM
Cambodia is not a landlocked country....I guess you have not looked at the map. You people in Manila need study the map in order to argue with China. Cambodi has territories conflic with Vietnam and Thailand too...and where were you?
by: Socali
March 26, 2015 12:56 AM
Reply
So Pol Pot really did destroy all the intellect of this country..
In Response
by: maden from: cambodia
March 26, 2015 7:31 AM
there are still many intellectuals in Cambodia and around the world..the problem is most of Khmer leaders are stupid!
by: Quang Nguyen from: United States
March 25, 2015 10:26 PM
Reply
Another Lonnol might be emerging as history repeats itself in this area of conflict. QN

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