Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘No need to violate Constitution’ with ‘base’, PM to tell US’ Pence

‘No need to violate Constitution’ with ‘base’, PM to tell US’ Pence

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday. Facebook

‘No need to violate Constitution’ with ‘base’, PM to tell US’ Pence

Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday that he had received a letter from US Vice President Mike Pence raising concerns over an alleged Chinese naval base in Koh Kong province.

He said he would explain to Pence that it was not necessary for Cambodia to violate its constitution as the Kingdom was not at war, and in any case had “enough forces to protect its independence”, and that he rejected “any ideology of competition” that could “split Cambodia”.

Last week, Hong Kong-based online news site Asia Times reported under the headline “Cambodia at the centre of a new cold war” that “since 2017, China had lobbied Cambodia for a port in Koh Kong on the Gulf of Thailand”. It said “it remains unclear how far construction has progressed”.

The article pointed to a 45,000ha economic land concession in Koh Kong province awarded to Chinese company Union Development Group.

The report was strongly denied by the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prak Sokhonn dismissed it as a rumour.

Before a government meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh on Monday, Hun Sen added his voice to those rejecting the speculation.

“I have received a letter from Mike Pence, Vice President of the United States, raising concerns over news that there was a Chinese naval base in Cambodia."

“I would like to clarify to compatriots and foreign friends – is it necessary for Cambodia to violate its constitution?” Hun Sen asked, explaining that the Cambodian Constitution forbids the presence of foreign troops in the Kingdom and its troops in other countries.

“I will reply to the letter from the US Vice President to show Cambodia’s position regarding its Constitution, which bans foreign military bases in Cambodia, no matter whether naval or for the army or air force,” he said.

Hun Sen said it was unnecessary for the Kingdom to allow foreign military bases as Cambodia was not at war with any country and, if it was, then Cambodia was capable of defending itself.

“Secondly, I raise a question … why does Cambodia need foreign forces on its territory? Who is Cambodia fighting? Cambodia has enough forces to protect its independence and sovereignty. There is no need for assistance from foreign troops,” he said.

He added he would not allow any kind of war on Cambodian territory on grounds of ideology or to “test weapons”.

“We utterly reject any ideology of competition which could split Cambodians and see Cambodians killed like in the past. We utterly reject competition [that could result in] Cambodia taken as an arena [for foreign countries] to test their weapons,” he said firmly.

The prime minister said he welcomed foreign competition in the economic and social sectors and that Cambodia would cooperate with other countries in the holding of military drills to combat terrorism and to sharpen rescue operations.

David Hutt, one of the article’s co-writers said on Twitter on Monday that he wrote the article based on diplomatic sources saying they expected Pence would raise concerns with Hun Sen.

“Our story did not say that foreign troops are already based in Cambodia, despite some coverage of our article. But, based on information provided by sources, it said that this was a possibility and the location we described could be where it takes place,” he wrote.

He denied his article was intended to “incite” or tarnish Cambodia’s reputation.

“Our article, unlike what a [government] spokesman claimed, was not intended “to incite and affect the reputation of Cambodia’s defence sector.”

Instead, it only raised questions about the extent of Cambodia-China relations, and the effect of this upon Cambodian sovereignty,” he said.

“Our intention was to point out the problems Cambodia could face, with US-China relations worsening, if in the future it allows foreign troops to base themselves [in Cambodia].”

Sok Toch, the president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said: “If [the news] is true, the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) must hold a referendum to see whether the people agree [with such a development].

“[The] CPP won 125 National Assembly seats from the support of the people, so if they don’t inform the people, this would be a constitutional coup.

“[Their power] is born out of the people, not through a coup. So a referendum would be needed to get support from the people,” he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Brawl marrs football final as Indonesian take gold in seven goal thriller

    The Indonesian men's U22 men national football team were crowned champions of the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, defeating Thailand 5-2 in extra time on May 16 at Olympic National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The match was marred by an ugly incident that occured in the 91

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Candlelight Party disqualified from July general election

    The National Election Committee (NEC) has disqualified the Candlelight Party (CP) from contesting the upcoming general election, citing a lack of valid documentation. NEC spokesman Khorn Keomono said the CP failed to fulfil one of the three main requirements: including original documentation proving their registration

  • Thong Khon calls for orderly SEA Games closing ceremony

    Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and permanent vice-president of the Cambodia SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC), calls on all people who have received tickets to the May 17 closing ceremony of the biennial multi-sports extravaganza at the Morodok Techo National Stadium to ensure that the event

  • 1.4 billion dollar Phnom Penh-Bavet expressway due in four years

    The Government, through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has officially signed a public-private partnership agreement with a private company for the construction of a Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway project that will connect the capital to Svay Rieng province. The budget for the project is