Conflicts between China and Vietnam to Increase Pressure over Cambodia

Both internal conflicts of Thailand and China’s islands have made Cambodia in a dire straits. For example Thailand did not uphold to the ICJ’s judgment or verdict on the Preah Vihear temple border issue due to Thai internal conflict in 2013. And a series of border fire-exchange contentious skirmishes in the wake of Thailand’s boiling up of tension.

Amid the Thailand prolonged-conflicts there are new other conflicts which has been arising---conflicts between China and Vietnam had simmer. These regional conflicts will affect to Cambodia inevitably. Vietnam is the neighboring and amicable country to Cambodia. As of China is the best friend who shored up economic businesses investment environment and donate millions of dollars to Cambodia too.

In a fashion of diplomatic politics and relationship, Cambodia is very difficult to stay neutrally---neither favor to China nor Vietnam. Regional diplomatic relationship has been affecting to Cambodia including since Chinese evacuees entered into Cambodia from Vietnam then Chinese government asked for Cambodian government to send them back to China. Meanwhile, Vietnamese who are staying in Cambodia may go on strike against China in Cambodia as well. Cambodia is very hard to hesitate for making any decision because of both China and Vietnam are entirely making great benefits [but not for sake of human rights and democracy] to Cambodia.

If Cambodia is so smart and being strong enough of economics. It may take advantages from these regional conflicts. In contrast, Cambodia is so weak in economics and has been rattling by internal chronicle disharmony spoiling up so it will be negatively affected by conflicts of the both countries. Phnom Penh government used to be beleaguered and had a stigma by bogging down the joint statement issuance of the ASEAN’s summit while it was the rotating president of the ASEAN association. Yet, Phnom Penh government used to notorious of transferring the ethnic minority back beholden to China’s request last time.

At the moment there is a new political pressure trace onto Cambodia again, while China and Vietnam are confronting on the islands issues. Cambodia is facing the pressing challenges of political pressure crisis from China and Vietnam as it could not yet resolve internal political election deadlock since 2013, whether Cambodia pro-China or pro-Vietnam. The single-party government of Phnom Penh is trapped in such tense crisis until cost much of resources to survive and secure its national and international politics. However, the opponent has been trying to struggle to defend the people’s will of national election result almost exhausted too.

In the wake of such standoff straits were shown to be coeval of the regional tension which exerts more pressure to Cambodia in terms of internal existing political deadlock. In this context, Cambodia must immediately deal with the internal issues in order to brace for impacts from the both countries’ conflicts. That is the best way and stay in neutrality position.

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