Japan plays China’s game in Cambodia. Hun Sen wins

As Phnom Penh cracks down on political opposition, Tokyo keeps quiet to retain its influence and not cede ground to Beijing. Meanwhile, strongman Hun Sen cynically plays off the two powers for his own benefit

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has bragged that any economic gaps left from souring relations with Japan would be quickly filled by China. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:45pm, 9 Jun 2018Updated: 12:52pm, 9 Jun 2018

Japan has adopted a curious strategy to limit Chinese power in Cambodia: imitate China. But standing behind Cambodia even as its democracy crumbles is winning Tokyo neither influence nor friends.

In the past year, members of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) – the only viable opposition party – have been arrested, exiled, and banned from the political arena. And in the lead up to July’s national election, the CNRP in its entirety was forcibly dissolved. Coinciding with this political crackdown has been a diplomatic shift, one that has seen meddlesome Western donors being replaced with no-strings-attached Chinese support.

While this has gone on, Japan – an important donor – has remained largely silent, even as it takes a battering from human rights observers and CNRP members.

In May, the opposition wrote an open letter to Japan’s minister of foreign affairs, noting that Japan had previously declared that July’s election should reflect the will of the people.

“We strongly urge the Government of Japan to reinforce this position,” the letter read, claiming that without the CNRP “at least half of the country will be deprived of the party of their choice”. The letter urged Japan to withdraw funding from the country, calling on it to be a “pillar of integrity”.

Mu Sochua has criticised Japan’s approach to influencing Cambodian reforms. Photo: Reuters