The Cambodia Daily
29-5-2025
Cambodia’s Defence Minister, Tea Seiha, says the country’s diplomatic relations with China will not falter, insisting the partnership continues to strengthen, particularly in the area of military cooperation.
Speaking on May 28 at the closing ceremony of the “Golden Dragon 2025” joint military exercise between Cambodia and China, held in Phnom Chum Saen, Tea Seiha described the bilateral relationship as deeply rooted and historically strong. He said that any attempt to undermine the unity between the two countries would not succeed.
The minister rejected claims that relations with Beijing have weakened under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, amid speculation that the new government might be shifting its focus toward other international partners.
He pointed to evidence such as sustained trade flows, Chinese military support, and the recent state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping as signs of continuing closeness and growing solidarity between Phnom Penh and Beijing.
However, some voices have challenged the official narrative.
Men Nath, head of the Norway-based Cambodia Watchdog Council, recently told The Cambodia Daily’s Idea Talk program that such statements from Cambodian officials merely echo the long-standing position of former Prime Minister Hun Sen.
He argued that while officials frequently highlight Chinese aid and loans, they often overlook what he described as deeper political entanglements between Hun Sen and China’s leadership. Connections he believes remain opaque to most observers.
According to Men Nath, Hun Sen’s main objective in cultivating close ties with Beijing was to secure Chinese backing for a long-term power transition within his own family, rather than for Cambodia’s national development or the benefit of its citizens.
In 2024, Hun Sen himself stated that Cambodia’s relationship with China, which he described as a long-standing historical alliance, had reached a point where it could not be undone, even with the change in prime minister.
