China’s pledges more military aid as Cambodia prepares for controversial election
Beijing has long-term strategy for investment in the country
China has vowed to grant more than US$100 million in military aid to Cambodia as it promised to boost ties with the Southeast Asian nation ahead of its election next month.
The pledges came during Chinese defence minister Wei Fenghe’s visit to Cambodia, where the two sides also agreed to increase military cooperation, including future joint military exercises, as well as a Chinese naval visit next year. Wei’s visit began on Sunday and will come to an end on Wednesday.
Wei met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday in Phnom Penh, where Wei extended greetings from President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
During his visit, Cambodian officials asked China to provide tactical gear, and provide the equipment and machinery needed to construct a training ground for live-fire drills.
Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodia People’s Party is expected to win the elections to be held on July 29, after the country’s primary opposition party the Cambodia National Rescue Party was dissolved last year. As a consequence, the EU and the US withdrew their support for the elections. Instead, Russia will provide election monitors and China and Japan have supplied election ballot boxes and booths.
Hun Sen has accused the US of supporting the opposition party in an effort to overthrow his government.