Since Hun Sen took full power in Cambodia in 1997, China has begun to play an influential role in the country by providing loans, investments, military support, and backing on the international stage to mitigate criticism and sanctions from the West. Beijing assists the Cambodian regime in maintaining power and protects it from powerful neighbours, especially Vietnam. In return, Cambodia politically supports China at the regional level (ASEAN) and globally (UN) and provides strategically significant access to the Indian Ocean. The article argues that Cambodia’s main motivation for embracing China support is regime security, despite the risks of growing dependence on its Chinese protector.
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