Cambodian politicians and bureaucrats have embarked on an exercise in damage control amid continuing fallout from last week’s ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), when foreign ministers with Phnom Penh as chair, ended an annual summit in acrimony and failed to issue a joint communiqué.
That failure also sharply focused attention on disputes in the South China Sea and Cambodia’s cozy relationship with China and its desire to deal with any territorial disputes with members of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on a bilateral basis.
Heng Samrin, Chairman of Cambodia’s National Assembly, will head a Parliamentary delegation to Hanoi for talks over the weekend in an attempt to placate Vietnamese anger over Cambodia’s apparent siding with China on the issue.
This comes amid a separate peace mission by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa who has taken on the role of mediator and already held talks with The Philippines and Vietnam.
China claims sovereignty over most of the resource-rich sea, including the Spratly and Paracel islands, home to vital shipping lanes. ASEAN members The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims that overlap and are promoting a unified ASEAN approach to negotiating with China.
That difference has caused a nasty split within ASEAN over how best to deal with Beijing and thwarted ASEAN from issuing the customary joint statement, a first in diplomatic bungles in its 45-year history.
The statement itself is normally unremarkable but what did incense members was Cambodia’s close relationship with China and Phnom Penh’s apparent use of the chair to do Beijing’s bidding despite the wishes of fellow ASEAN members.
In particular, Cambodia refused to cater for Manila’s demands that any statement concerning disputes in the South China Sea must mention its standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal.
Cambodia has accepted more than US$10 billion in foreign aid, soft loans and investments from China over the last 18 years, which Prime Minister Hun Sen insists came with no strings attached.
Nobody was convinced of that argument and the ire directed at Cambodia, like its inability to produce a joint statement, was unprecedented.
This perhaps gave other issues a nudge in the right direction.
In the same week Cambodia announced its troops have finally been pulled out of the demilitarized zone around the 11th century temples of Preah Vihear where they had fought a four-year border skirmish with Thailand. Thai soldiers were also redeployed.
Phnom Penh also said Patrick Devillers – a French architect wanted for questioning in China over the massive Bo Xilai corruption scandal — had left for Shanghai of his own accord.
Both issues had generated much heat for the Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong who will be happy to see the back of Devillers and the Thai soldiers. But whether the same will be said for Cambodia, its relationship with China and disputes in the South China Sea is doubtful.
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WarriorBraveSoldier
China will not reach it's dream of becoming a super power.
The first and foremost of being a super power is to be kind to your neighbors to expand your horizon and territory in mutual terms but China did the opposite.
She greedily wants the whole pie leaving nothing for the smaller nation who also seeks a pie as determined by sovereign boundaries.
Having that kind of attitude and scenario, do you think China will be their friends by being bully to them? Having an enemy that close will be a hindrance of becoming a super power. It's a big strategical mistake by CCP leaders.
The world is now more interconnected unlike centuries ago that you really can twist and hide essential facts.
The term power comes with respect which is inter related with responsibilities. Everyone knows that there's no everlasting power
remember the old Portuguese, Spain, Britain, Japan, Americans regime lasted only for a few decades.
It is very important that China manages this area well, that time the world is not so knowledgeable and thats the reason why other nations has easily been conquered.
Recent aggressiveness of China shows that she is willing to gamble the neighbors respect for the ultimate Glory? of being wealthy and powerful.
The history taught everyone a lesson and China never learnt the painful history of Japan. That being superior to others will only last for few decades and it's not for an eternity.
Military muscles are only needed if you do not have option and you have the support of the nations majority. UN has been established to discussions if numerous countries have a disagreement with other parties.
International laws have been established to provide guidelines to settle boundary disputes. Laws has been created to settle disputes and the only venue where light weight and heavy weight nation can outwit one another by presenting legible facts.
Using military as an option is a dead gamble. Muscle to muscle is a big gamble that you must be willing to face not only today but also by your successive generations.
Note:
Nuclear power is good to annihilate opponents at one time and painful and slow death to the survivors and bombers since earth is round and there's no way the toxic can escape the earth atmosphere.
Remember, it's better to die with full dignity intact rather than to survive with nobody respect you.
vic
I am repeating, in plain language, what the "nine-dashed line" means. It means – "I am the Godfather of the SCS, clear everything with me first".
nirvana
@vic,
You have forgotten to state "By virtue of the Heaven Mandate", I am…. That' what Ming Emperors said when they make great proclamations. Keep your traditions please.
John Chan
@nirvana,
“By virtue of the Heaven Mandate” is way better than “By virtue of the Western Supremist Mandate.” If the Filipinos do not want to submit to the Heaven Mandate, why do they submit to the West Supremist Mandate? Is it because the Filipinos are totally emerged in the culture of Cargo Cult left behind by their ex-colonial masters?
nirvana
@John Chan,
I take note that you conceded that China is indeed pursuing an Imperialistic policy.
I will give then the obvious answer to the question that is torturing both vic and you. Why do the majority of Asians display a preference to the West than to China?
There is a positive and a negative way to look at it.
POSITIVE:
Because the West has evolved and China has regressed, as you have admitted above.
Because of looking at the standards of living in Japan, SKorea, Taiwan, Singapour, HongKong, Turkey, Australia, New-Zealand.
Because in the West there were people openly supporting our fights for independence, even when the West states were our colonizers.
NEGATIVE:
Because between 2 equal evils, the worst choice is to pick the one that is geographically closest.
Because between a rising military superpower that evacuated its bases when asked for and a rising superpower that is sneaking military outposts into your backyards, the choice is self-evident.
Because between a Gorilla and a Chimpanze, it is better to sit closer to the Gorilla. He has muscles, doesn’t behave erratically and doesn’t suddenly bite.
Vic
@nirvana
Among ASEAN countries, Philippines uniquely suffers from "cargo cultt" mentality. Adulation of America is uniquely Filipino; this makes Philippines an American Trojan horse in ASEAN.
Freedom For Asia
Cambodia is the trojan horse for CCP! China and the United States are pouring gasoline in this peaceful part of the world! one day both of you will realize the consequences you have made!
Freedom For Asia
Cambodia is the trojan horse for CCP! China and the United States are pouring gasoline on this peaceful part of the world! one day both of you will realize the consequences you have made.World war 3 is on hand.
vic
@Freedom for Asia
With so much gasoline afloat, make sure that no SE Asian country (specially, the Philippines) strikes a match.
filipino defender
Dont worry mr arrogance we are not so stupid like some arrogant country to do that! (china)
vic
Asean is an economic body; trying to turn it too hastily into a political bloc is prone to failure. Haste makes waste. Unfortunately, Philippines, by throwing tantrums, shows that a country member's immaturity can tarnish the image of Asean.
nirvana
The Philippines was a founding member of ASEAN whereas Cambodia is only the 9th member by chronology.
All recent closing joint communiqués of the AMM summits, except this one, have a chapter on "ASEAN political and security", and under this Chapter there has been always a paragraph on "South China Sea".
True, the main goal is to build the ASEAN Economic Community (EAC), by 2015. Ensuring security and political stability are essential for economic boom. Now, the fact is that the SCS is a contention bone but there are recently more conflicts with China than between the ASEAN claimants. What is new and unfortunate in the 45th AMM Summit is that the SCS was a source of conflict between Cambodia and some ASEAN members, not between the 4 claimant members, not between the non-claimants and the claimants.
Coincidentally (?), Cambodia is the member which receives most aids from China. There are 1 million Chinese immigrant workers in Cambodia today. No string attached?
vic
@nirvana
Cambodia had no conflict with Asean members during the recent meeting. It was some countries trying to take on the chair because they could not get the statement they wanted. Real hoodlums, these countries are.
Asean is formed for economic issues, not to form a political bloc. Whether it becomes a political bloc is something further down the road. First thing first. Get the economic coordination in order, develop some economic muscles first before thinking about political muscles. Don't try to be everything to everyone.
Philippines was outspoken at the meeting, but as usual they are all talk. What is the contribution of Philippines? All they wanted to is to get people to fight on their behalf and for free too. What does Philippine intend to do in return? Nothing, as usual.
Asean exists not for Philippines only. As to when Cambodia came into Asean is irrelevant. All members have equal say, unless if you are Philippines, and you have the right to dictate to the chair. Del Rosario has been clumsy in Scarborough Reef and comical in an Asean forum.
nirvana
@vic,
Let me explain what consensus means in a democratic assembly. It means no sustained opposition to a certain proposal. So if there is one member opposing the rest, you do not have consensus.
In a democratic assembly, it is not the role of the Chair to raise opposition but to search for consensus. Hor Namhong said that he blocked the statement, even at the cost of damaging ASEAN image, because he did not want to "pour gasoline into fire". This means that he blocked the statement proposed by Phiippines according to Cambodia's view (or his view, or whatever China told him). As a Chair, he would not need to do that if there was another member who opposed Philippines' and Vietnam's position. So before the Chair intervened, THERE WAS CONSENSUS, a consensus that did not suit Cambodia who happened to be the Chair (and abusing this position).
Vic
@nirvana
Was Cambodia acting within the rules of the Asean forum? Yes or no? What are the protocols? All discussions are internal to Asean behind closed doors, if need be. At the end of the day, there was no statement. I suppose if you have nothing worth saying, then don't say it. Big deal! Better luck next time for the Philippines. No need for tantrums, it looks very degrading for delegates to behave like this in a regional meeting.
Errol T
You mean that any fossil fuels under the SCS have no economic impact? It's not just politics here.
vic
A bird in hand is better than two in the bush. Philippines should get its economic act together, instead of hoping for unknown riches in the land beneath the sea. It neither has the technological nor the economic resources to develop complex operations. When push comes to shove, military muscles count as well. One has to be realistic with one's ability.
Tom
Good for Kampuchea. See what you have gained under a Viet-friendly rule? nothing. And Vietnam will suck badly for the next 20 years or so under the VCP rules. I hope this is an opportunity for those rulers in Vietnam see what is coming to them. Without money, they are nothing in this world, and they will end up like many dictators in the Middle East. To reform, the only way is to give power back to the people.
mark murphy
The damage is done to ASEAN as China feels free to start its irresersable course of taking control of South China Sea. When and if the international communities decide to engage China, there will be bloodshed as China can not afford to "loose face". Cambodia will see blood on its hands.
John Chan
@mark murphy,
The only bloodsheds in SE Asia were caused by the European, American and Japanese invaders. American led butchers had bombed the innocent bystanders, Cambodia, into nearly total destruction, then blamed their atrocity to Cambodian themselves; BTW when is the American going to show remorse about the war crimes it committed against Cambodians? Or when are the Americans going to wash the Cambodian blood on their hands?
Flam
@john chan
It is another classic statements from PRC bloggers they will throw negative comments against “west” will narrowed down to “US” this kind of pattern of argument well be seen on their comments. I could say that the west has problem but we cannot ignored that the “east” has also its own problem regarding on China’s action so what is the sense of this argument if your country, China, is also doing the same “bad” things as “west” does in this present time.
Cyrus
I would wish SEATO to be revived. They would be a better venue rather than the failed ASEAN.
vic
Longing for America? Your are adulating your former colonial master, USA. SEATO was an American creation that was to subjugate South-East Asian countries to American leadership. Those days are gone. Only Filipinos are truly colonized.
Cyrus
SEATO was to create a Security Block to protect each member state from agression. If SEATO was still active I bet China would cower and would not even dare to intimidate the Philippines and other South East Asian State.
vic
SEATO was disbanded because it became irrelevant. US was hoping it might become like NATO for SE Asia. US was always dreaming military, whereas the problem in Asia has been about economics.