China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Cambodia news in English! Here you'll find all the breaking news from Cambodia translated into English for our international readership and expat community to read and comment on. The majority of our news stories are gathered from the local Khmer newspapers, but we also bring you newsworthy media from Cambodia before you read them anywhere else. Because of the huge population of the capital city, most articles are from Phnom Penh, but Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, and Kampot often make the headlines as well. We report on all arrests and deaths of foreigners in Cambodia, and the details often come from the Cambodian police or local Khmer journalists. As an ASEAN news outlet, we also publish regional news and events from our neighboring countries. We also share local Khmer news stories that you won't find in English anywhere else. If you're looking for a certain article, you may use our site's search feature to find it quickly.
Abc123
Expatriate
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:42 am
Reputation: 53
Australia

China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by Abc123 »

China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomac ... phnom-penh

Observers consider what price the Southeast Asian nation might one day pay for Beijing’s support

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 14 January, 2018, 8:01am
UPDATED : Sunday, 14 January, 2018, 8:14am

Laura Zhou
Sarah Zheng


Road signs and advertising boards in Phnom Penh were traditionally written in two languages: Khmer and English. But things are changing in Cambodia’s colourful capital.

Dotted around the city these days are signs, both literal and metaphorical, of China’s growing influence in one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations.
In Phnom Penh on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang signed 19 agreements worth billions of dollars to develop Cambodia’s infrastructure, agriculture and health system.

One of the largest deals involves the construction of a motorway running 200km (125 miles) from the capital to the resort city of Sihanoukville. Cambodia’s Minister for Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol said China would invest about US$2 billion in the scheme.
Other projects, according to a statement issued by Cambodia’s foreign ministry, include a new airport for Phnom Penh, two electricity transmission schemes and a forestry centre for cultivating high-quality timber trees.

Li’s visit comes at a time when Cambodia’s government, under Prime Minister HE, is facing rising pressure from the United States and the European Union over its human rights record. Both have threatened sanctions in response to a ruling by the nation’s top court – on a government-filed lawsuit – to dissolve the Cambodia National Rescue Party, Sen’s only real opposition.
China supports Cambodia’s ban on main opposition party

The decision, which Human Rights Watch said represented the “death of democracy” in the country, means he will effectively run unchallenged in this year’s elections.

While some critics have said Cambodia will pay a price for China’s financial support – like losing its voice on regional issues such as the South China Sea disputes – others are more upbeat on the latest collaboration.

A sign written in Khmer, Chinese and English hangs on a health care centre under construction at the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone. The area hopes to become the Cambodian equivalent of China’s tech hub Shenzhen. Photo: Sarah Zheng
Sok Siphana, a lawyer and adviser to the Cambodian government, said Li’s visit was “a strong message” and that the two countries were “standing by each other and supporting each other’s core interests”.

With a population of about 15.7 million and a troubled modern history, Cambodia is a nation with poor infrastructure and a gross domestic product per capita of less than US$1,300, which makes it vulnerable to economic pressures from the outside world. Partnering with China was a wise move, Siphana said.
“Of course we still want to export to the EU,” he said. “But if sanctions are imposed, we are not going to sit and wait to die. We would work hard, we would look at other markets, and China is definitely one of our prime markets for rice and other agriculture commodities.”


Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that Li’s visit could be seen as a sign of strengthening ties between the two countries.
“In a time of crisis, China is offering a helping hand to the Cambodian people and the government,” he said, in reference to the threat of US and EU sanctions.

Chinese shops are becoming increasingly commonplace in Cambodia. Photo: Sarah Zheng
Since overtaking Japan as Cambodia’s biggest foreign investor several years ago, China’s influence in the country has grown steadily. Between 2011 and 2015, Chinese firms provided almost US$5 billion worth of loans and investments to the country. Among them was telecommunications giant Huawei, which partnered with a local firm to launch Cambodia’s first 4.5G network.
Detained Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha calls for free and fair vote in New Year’s message

Similarly, Chinese money is helping to build the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone, which has its sights set on becoming the Cambodian equivalent of southern China’s flourishing tech hub Shenzhen, and has already attracted about 100 Chinese firms.
“Over the years, Chinese enterprises have seen the potential in Cambodia,” China’s ambassador to the country Xiong Bo said in November, pointing to its low tax rates, cheap labour and scope for growth. “China’s strengths are compatible with Cambodia’s needs,” he said.

A property development is advertised in three languages. Photo: Sarah Zheng

Virak Ou, a Cambodian political analyst and founder of Future Forum, a Phnom Penh-based independent think tank, said the benefits of Cambodia’s cooperation with China would far outweigh any potential losses as a result of US or EU sanctions.
“Economically, I don’t see a backlash from Western countries affecting the economy that much,” he said. “[And any losses] could be easily replaced by China … [Cambodia] is still a small economy and a very poor country, which means any injection by a major power like China goes a long way.”
Cambodia deports dozens of Chinese suspects over nude photo extortion scam

While acknowledging the economic benefits of partnering with China, Ou also warned of the dangers of becoming too closely aligned with its giant ally and ending up in its pocket.
“If it keeps going at this rate [Cambodia’s relationship with China], in 10 years it will be too close and we will be in trouble,” he said.
In an open letter written in 2015, Ou, who is also a prominent human rights activist, urged the Cambodian government to adopt a “non-aligned foreign policy” and maintain a balanced relationship with both China and the United States.
pczz
Expatriate
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:00 pm
Reputation: 807
Location: phnom penh
Great Britain

Re: China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by pczz »

http://www.worldhighways.com/sections/e ... evaluated/
German motorways are contructed to a very high standard and this link says EUR 8m million a kilometre so 200km = Eur 1,600,000,000 sot hey should be able to build a decent road here. trouble is usually they don't. @ inches of tarmac on 4 inches of sand does not a good road make
Abc123
Expatriate
Posts: 516
Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2017 2:42 am
Reputation: 53
Australia

Re: China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by Abc123 »

IMO, China would still be investing whatever government was in here. The difference being perhaps that the west would also be injecting more if Cambodia became more bona fide re coruption and transparency etc in the eyes of the other major investment players. Joining the IMF would have been a step in the right direction I suppose. I don't particularly like the IMF or the World Bank etc, but I doubt I would like the Chinese equivalents if I educated myself about them. Ultimately though, i don't think it's a good idea for Cambodia to put all its eggs in one basket.
willyhilly
Expatriate
Posts: 1758
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2016 7:11 am
Reputation: 357
Location: Australia
Albania

Re: China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by willyhilly »

It's worth reading about the problems the Americans had when they first built the road to Kompong Saom. It required lots of remedial work later.
I think Chinese road building is up to scratch nowadays, but surely a fast train would have been a better investment. How will they get all the trucks and contraptions off the new road, it would need about twenty lanes. As the the tree planting thing, it should have been started ten years ago but of course all the trees would have been stolen by now.
pczz
Expatriate
Posts: 3204
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:00 pm
Reputation: 807
Location: phnom penh
Great Britain

Re: China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by pczz »

willyhilly wrote: Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:52 am It's worth reading about the problems the Americans had when they first built the road to Kompong Saom. It required lots of remedial work later.
I think Chinese road building is up to scratch nowadays, but surely a fast train would have been a better investment. How will they get all the trucks and contraptions off the new road, it would need about twenty lanes. As the the tree planting thing, it should have been started ten years ago but of course all the trees would have been stolen by now.
@0 lanes? first you have to educate Cambodians what a lane is and how to drive between the lines, not with 2 wheela on either side of them :beer1:
Takmav
Expatriate
Posts: 70
Joined: Wed Nov 15, 2017 10:01 am
Reputation: 10
Costa Rica

Re: China pledges more investment in Cambodia, but is Phnom Penh selling itself short?

Post by Takmav »

Going to build the world's ninth biggest airport in Kendal province paid by China. Could have constructed a terminal building next to the runway they built in Kompong Chhnang.
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Ahrefs [Bot], Kayve, KunKhmerSR, Moe, PSD-Kiwi, Spigzy, ThiagoA and 1378 guests