Renewed US Interest in Region Puts Cambodia in Tough Spot, Analysts Say
The US “pivot to Asia,” which will be punctuated next week with the Cambodian visit of US President Barack Obama, will likely put Cambodia in a tough spot in the region, caught between the renewed focus of the United States and the increased influence of China, analysts say. Sensitive issues in the region abound, including over the South China Sea; North Korea and nuclear weapons; relations between China and Japan, as well as other neighbors; and more, said Sokunpanha You, a graduate student in public policy at the University of Michigan. ... As host of Asean this year, Cambodia has already been caught in the middle of disputes from Southeast Asian countries and China over the South China Sea. Cambodia was heavily criticized after a failed Asean meeting in July in which it was seen to have pushed a pro-Chinese agenda during regional talks. ...
