Chanborey Cheunboran. Cambodia’s China Strategy

Cambodia's China Strategy: Security Dilemmas of Embracing the Dragon written by Chanborey Cheunboran (2021) endeavours to offer a thorough analysis of Cambodia's foreign policy by delving into the historical context of the country's quest for survival and security.It examines Cambodia's diplomatic traditions, political and economic imperatives, as well as the worldview of Cambodian leaders regarding the future of Asia and the international order, along with their implications for the nation.The book presents eight key findings.Firstly, Cambodia's geographical position, sandwiched between powerful and historically adversarial neighbours such as Thailand and Vietnam, has consistently influenced the country's strategic orientation from 1431 to 1997.This geographical reality has prompted Cambodian leaders to seek support and assistance from external powers against immediate neighbours, as evidenced by the acceptance of the French protectorate in 1863, Lon Nol's alliance with the United States (US) after the 1970 coup, and the strengthening of the Democratic Kampuchea-People's Republic of China (DK-PRC) alliance in the late 1970s.Secondly, between 1997 and 2008, Cambodia under Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodia's People Party (CPP) pursued a hedging strategy towards China, Vietnam, Japan, ASEAN and key western Official Development Assistance (ODA) donors such as the US and European Union (EU).This cautious approach stemmed from Phnom Penh's suspicions and fears regarding China's past involvement in Cambodia, as well as concerns about potential alienation of Hanoi, ASEAN, and Western ODA donor countries crucial for Cambodia's security and economic development.Thirdly, in the late 2000s, Cambodia's strategic direction evolved towards an alignment with China

Alliance · China · Context (archaeology · Democracy · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Foreign policy · Geography · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Cambodian History and Society · Law · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies