Government
International relations
US-Cambodia standoff
In late January last year, China donated 100 tanks to Cambodia. And the militaries of the two countries just celebrated their 60th anniversary of Sino-Cambodia diplomatic relations by concluding their joint annual Golden Dragon military exercises on Thursday. ...
Sek Sophal
https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1439187/us-cambodia-standoff
Cambodia, Thailand agree to open international border checkpoint mid-May
Cambodia and Thailand plan to officially open a new international border checkpoint in mid-May, an official confirmed on Sunday. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-thailand-agree-open-international-border-checkpoint-mid-may
Mekong summit sees $66B worth of projects agreed to
Six countries pledged to enact $66 billion worth of projects over the next five years at the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit in Hanoi on Saturday, with Cambodia-specific projects scheduled to receive the least amount of funding of any participant. ...
Robin Spiess
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mekong-summit-sees-66b-worth-projects-agreed
Golden Dragon military exercises end with bang
Amid a hail of 20,000 bullets, the thud of eight helicopters, a hostage rescue demonstration and choreographed martial arts performances, the joint Chinese-Cambodian Golden Dragon military exercises concluded yesterday as officials from both sides praised the expanding relationship between the two countries. ...
Ben Sokhean and Daphne Chen
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/golden-dragon-military-exercises-end-bang
Japan to sign aid agreements next week
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday announced that Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit Cambodia soon to sign an aid agreement, dismissing reports that the Japanese would pressure him to negotiate with former CNRP officials. ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50116389/japan-to-sign-aid-agreements-next-week/
Hun Sen says Cambodia won’t discuss CNRP with Japan
Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Tuesday that a meeting with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Taro Kono next week would not include discussions of the dissolved CNRP, affirming his commitment to holding this year’s elections while rejecting the possibility of negotiations or pardons for the ...
Ben Sokhean and Leonie Kijewski
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-says-cambodia-wont-discuss-cnrp-japan
Ministry says Japan’s concerns misplaced
Following a meeting in which a Japanese emissary urged the government to open negotiations with the now-dissolved opposition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested Japan’s concerns were based on a “misunderstanding” and said Cambodia is too small to fight against an alleged “strong propaganda machine”. ...
Mech Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-says-japans-concerns-misplaced
RCAF ‘observing’ in Thailand, with photos showing army-plated vehicles in Bangkok
Days after Cambodian and Thai officials reportedly agreed on closer coordination over “foreign fugitives”, opposition party members who have fled the country for Thailand have provided evidence of Cambodian military vehicles stationed near their homes in Bangkok, increasing fear among asylum seekers that they could ...
Ben Sokhean and Ananth Baliga
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/rcaf-observing-thailand-photos-showing-army-plated-vehicles-bangkok
Cambodia, states clash at UN session
Cambodia traded shots with the international community in a heated exchange at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday evening, with states condemning the Kingdom’s ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and civil society, and an increasingly agitated Cambodia accusing member states of ...
Leonie Kijewski
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cambodia-states-clash-un-session
New international checkpoint to open in Battambang
Cambodia and Thailand are due to open an international checkpoint bordering Battambang province and Sa Kaeo province to facilitate the flow of goods across the border at the end of this month. Nguon Ratanak, Battambang provincial governor, and Porn Poth Penpas, Sa Kaeo provincial governor, held ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50115168/new-international-checkpoint-to-open-in-battambang/
Rights protests at Asean-Australia summit as leaders discuss cooperation
An Asean special summit with Australia wrapped up on Sunday, with regional leaders declaring a “new era” of increasingly close relations, following two days of protests in Sydney against the rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen. An estimated 300 protesters gathered on Friday, the majority ...
Erin Handley and Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rights-protests-asean-australia-summit-leaders-discuss-cooperation
‘Like-minded friends forever’: Golden Dragon, Cambodia’s 17-day military exercise with China, kicks off
On Saturday morning, hundreds of Cambodian and Chinese soldiers in full combat gear stood in formation in front of a backdrop of tanks, armoured trucks, machine gun-mounted helicopters, and artillery weapons. Generals from both sides spoke warmly of the deepening relationship between the two countries, ...
Chinese choppers, APCs arrive for joint exercise
Three helicopters, eight armoured personnel carriers and other military materials from China arrived in Cambodia yesterday a few days ahead of a military exercise between the Cambodian and Chinese militaries in Kampong Speu province. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50114295/chinese-choppers-apcs-arrive-for-joint-exercise/
UN human rights envoy raises CNRP dissolution in meeting with National Assembly president
UN Special Rapporteur Rhona Smith raised the forced dissolution of the CNRP and the redistribution of its legislative seats, as well as the government’s frequent legal action against sitting parliamentarians, during her visit on Tuesday with National Assembly President Heng Samrin. ...
China paying for majority of joint military exercise
The Chinese government is picking up the majority of the tab for the joint military exercise between China and Cambodia from March 17 to 30 in Kampong Speu province’s Samroang Tong district. ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113687/china-paying-for-majority-of-joint-military-exercise/
PM to attend summit in face of protests
Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend the Asean-Australia Special Summit this week in the face of planned protests against his attendance, including by the wife of slain political analyst Kem Ley who was recently granted refugee status. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement ...
Khy Sovuthy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113689/pm-to-attend-summit-in-face-of-protests/
South Korea to help build bridge across Mekong
The government of South Korea will help to build a Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River in the future, according to a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry yesterday. The announcement came after a meeting on Friday between Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and newly-appointed ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50113678/south-korea-to-help-build-bridge-across-mekong/
Hun Sen lauds US-North Korea talks
Prime Minister Hun Sen applauded the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Saturday, offering his congratulations to the odd couple at the fourth annual River Festival in Kandal province. ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/hun-sen-lauds-us-north-korea-talks
War games: Ministry says 'please don't be alarmed' as it announces Golden Dragon military exercise with China
The Ministry of Defence on Thursday warned civilians and aircraft to avoid a section of Kampong Speu province from March 15 to March 30 while Cambodia participates in its Golden Dragon military training exercises with China. ...
Ben Sokhean and Andrew Nachemson
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/war-games-ministry-says-please-dont-be-alarmed-it-announces-golden-dragon-military-exercise
Japan to fund four new local projects
Japan agreed to provide $384,817 in financial assistance to local organisations for projects in Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Chhnang and Koh Kong. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50112050/japan-fund-four-new-local-projects/
New border crossing to open in November
The governments of Cambodia and Thailand in November will launch a new border crossing in Banteay Meanchey province and Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province to facilitate entry of citizens from both countries. Cambodian officials met with their Thai counterparts on Friday to discuss the new checkpoint, which ...
Sen David
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50111864/new-border-crossing-open-november/
Spokesman vows Cambodia will fight against ‘colonisation’ after US cuts aid
The Cambodian government expressed “dismay” yet remained defiant yesterday in the face of a US decision to cut aid to the Kingdom in response to its ongoing political crackdown, saying it would not comply with demands to restore the forcibly dissolved opposition CNRP. In a statement, ...
Mech Dara and Daphne Chen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/spokesman-vows-cambodia-will-fight-against-colonisation-after-us-cuts-aid
US cuts aid to Cambodia with aim to ‘urge government to reconsider its current course’
The White House is cutting aid to several assistance programs in Cambodia due to “recent setbacks to democracy”, it announced late Tuesday. Some programs supporting Cambodia’s Tax Department, military and local government will be cut or reduced “to ensure that American taxpayer funds are not being ...
Daphne Chen and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/us-cuts-aid-cambodia-aim-urge-government-reconsider-its-current-course
EU council condemns crackdown but stops short of concrete action
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union yesterday adopted a set of conclusions condemning “recent worrying political developments and the continuing deterioration of democracy” in Cambodia, though some politicians expressed regret about a missed opportunity to take concrete measures. The conclusions, passed by the European ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eu-council-condemns-crackdown-stops-short-concrete-action