By Luke Hunt
Within the various corridors of power across Southeast Asia, tongues are still wagging over the outburst delivered by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at last week’s ASEAN summit. At the heart of the speech was Cambodia’s close relationship with China, and his message was simple: Beijing’s generous financial backing of his government didn’t compromise Cambodia’s standing as the annual host of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The claim came despite continued friction over the contested Spratly islands, where China has laid claim to the oil and gas rich island chain that lies much closer to the geographical boundaries of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei than anywhere near its own shores.
All four belong to the 10-member ASEAN bloc, where a rift has emerged following Cambodia’s decision to try and outbox an attempt by ASEAN to forge a united front against China on the Spratlys issue.
Adding to the dissension, The Diplomat has since learned that the trip by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Phnom Penh on the eve of the ASEAN Summit that so rattled delegates wasn’t quite the state visit Beijing would have many believe.
Read the full story at The Diplomat