The right to fulfil a need

via CAAI News Media

Published: 17/03/2010 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Re: the article by Robert Carmichael, published in the Bangkok Post on March 11, 2010 under the title, ''Cash-starved Cambodia dances to China's tune.''

He is right when he says China's investment and economic aid to Cambodia have enormously increased in recent years. He is also right to stress that the sums channelled into Cambodia amount to peanuts for China but are a big deal for Cambodia. However, the question raised in the article, about China's influence on Cambodia, is unwarranted and full of prejudice.

After decades of war and the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime which completely destroyed the country, Cambodia has been in need not only of foreign assistance but also foreign direct investment, to rebuild and develop its socio-economy.

Cambodia welcomes and appreciates help and investment from all parts of the world. If more businesses and investment come from China, why should it be wrong for ''cash-starved Cambodia'' (Mr Carmichael's term) to embrace them for the benefit of the country's socio-economic development? It is a fact that China is the biggest country in East Asia, whose significance and growing economic importance cannot be ignored.

Moreover, as already expressed by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen, China has always respected Cambodia's independence and sovereignty.

Cambodia, as a sovereign country governed by democratic rule, has the full right to decide on what is best for the nation. Robert Carmichael cites Cambodia's op position legislator, Son Chhay, in claiming that Phnom Penh has ''to talk like a parrot'' in backing Beijing on Burma and Taiwan. In supporting such a position, Robert Carmichael himself clearly appears ''the parrot''.

With regard to Taiwan, Son Chhay has simply ignored the fact that the Royal Government of Cambodia has adopted its one-China policy since the 1950s like many countries around the world, long before it got any substantial aid and investment from China. On Burma, Cambodia has a common stand with all the other Asean countries.

OUK SOPHOIN

Charge d'Affaires, Royal Embassy of Cambodia