US Announces Arms Embargo on Cambodia..."Concerns Over China's Expanding Military Influence"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. government announced that it will impose sanctions, including an arms embargo, on Cambodia. This move is interpreted as a response to the recent pro-China stance of the Cambodian government and the expanding influence of the Chinese military.

According to foreign media such as the Associated Press on the 8th (local time), the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that it will impose sanctions on Cambodia, including an arms embargo and new export restrictions. Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, stated in a press release, "We urge the Cambodian government to make meaningful progress in addressing corruption and human rights issues and to work to reduce the influence of the Chinese military, which threatens regional and global security."

The reason the U.S. government publicly announced sanctions on Cambodia aimed at countering China is interpreted as Cambodia rapidly emerging as a key ally of China in the Southeast Asian region. The U.S. government has been particularly wary of military cooperation between the two countries around the Ream naval base, a strategic military site bordering the Gulf of Thailand. After U.S. intelligence identified buildings inside the base constructed with Chinese military support, the U.S. government has been highly cautious about Chinese military movements in Cambodia.

Although the Cambodian government has not yet responded to the U.S. measures, it is expected that diplomatic tensions with the U.S. will deepen further. Last month, in this context, the U.S. government announced sanctions against two Cambodian officials working at the Ream base for corruption-related reasons.

Currently, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is regarded as a pro-China leader. He has recently publicly expressed support for the Myanmar military government, which is receiving Chinese backing. He is scheduled to visit Myanmar on January 7-8 next year to meet with Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief and leader of the military government, to discuss cooperation plans.