Last Updated: Mon, 3 May 2010 18:33:00 +1000
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/201005/2889172.htm?desktop
Cambodia's foreign minister says China will donate equipment to the country's military.
The announcement comes after the United States cancelled a shipment of military vehicles when Phnom Penh expelled Uighur asylum-seekers at China's request.
Twenty people were expelled last December.
Foreign Minister Hor Namhong has announced that China will donate more than 250 trucks and 50,000 uniforms to the Cambodian military.
At the time of the expulsions, Washington said Cambodia had failed in its international obligations by sending the Uighurs back to an uncertain fate in China, and it threatened punishment.
Pleased
But where Washington was annoyed, Beijing was clearly pleased.
Within days of the expulsions, China had awarded Cambodia more than $1 billion in economic aid, although both countries denied any link to the US stance.
China is a key investor in Cambodia, particularly in infrastructure.
Acceptance of China's latest donation is a less than subtle message that Cambodia is prepared to play off one big power against another.
Minister Hor Namhong says China's President Hu Jintao has promised more military assistance in the future.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Cambodia wins Chinese military aid
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1 comment:
The message of the Cambodians is clear - that the US must out-bid China if it wants to have its way.
This development must be painful for the Americans who are used to be able to out-spend their rivals.
They may be tempted as a result to try to foment a color-revolution like the one is Thailand.
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