| Summary/Abstract |
This paper will assess Cambodia’s current and future strategic and security
situation, arguing that current and future Cambodian national security will be
determined by the three key strategic security issues of domestic, geographic,
human and economic security. These three key security factors have significantly
underpinned Cambodia’s strategic challenges. The first strategic challenge is related
to the current domestic political deadlock between the two major political parties,
the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), led by Prime Minister Hun and the
opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), led by Sam Rainsy. The
current political contestation has significant challenges for Cambodian national
development as well as foreign policy. The second major strategic challenge
for Cambodia relates to economic security, and the requirement to balance the
strategic competition between China and the United States to gain influence within
Cambodia. This external power competition has a significant impact on Cambodia’s
political and economic circumstances as Cambodia remains heavily dependent
on foreign aid for political and economic development as can be seen today. The
key challenge is that while China and the United States are the largest providers,
they are competing for their own interests and influence in Cambodia, and the
wider Southeast Asian region. The third challenge facing Cambodia is centered
around managing its relationship with China and ASEAN claimants in the context
of territorial disputes over the South China Sea. This environment presents one of
the most challenging difficulties for the kingdom’s contemporary foreign policy.
These challenges have greatly impacted and shaped Cambodia’s reform agenda,
defense posture, political system and international engagements. The paper will also
consider how Cambodia’s effort and commitment towards reform and its integration
with the international community will not be achieved without overcoming these
three challenges.
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