‘Pro-China’ Cambodia overtakes PH

CAMBODIAN Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet made an official visit to the Philippines and met with President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. last February 10.

One of the narratives that came out from the meeting of these two ASEAN leaders is a news dispatch from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) headlined: “Cambodia helps PH ensure food security.” It is comforting to have such supportive countries in ASEAN to assist the Philippines in some of its critical challenges.

Previously, both sides did not have such amicable attitude towards each other; in 2016, Cambodia blocked the Philippines’ effort to insert in the ASEAN common statement the mention of the “UN-backed court ruling on South China Sea row.”

PM Hun Manet’s father, Hun Sen, the Cambodian PM at the time, lashed out at critics of Cambodia’s position as he accused The Hague Panel (that issued the 2016 ‘Arbitral Award’) of political bias and “… other countries using Cambodia to counter China. They use us and curse us…”

At the time too, the US-beholden Philippine media such as the Inquirer and Rappler had similar headlines, “Cambodia blocking Asean consensus on South China Sea – diplomat” and quoting an “unnamed Southeast Asian diplomat” as reported by Agence France-Presse.

But really, there was no such ‘consensus’ as the majority of ASEAN members, then and now, have always adhered to the 2002 Declaration of Conduct on the SCS and pursue the Code of Conduct for the SCS.

From the late 1960s to the 1970s Cambodia became a victim of 500,000 tons of U.S. carpet bombing that killed upwards to 500,000 civilians, in America’s failed effort to disrupt the supply lines of the North Vietnam Army to South Vietnam thru the ‘Ho Chin Minh Trail.’

The Philippines fought on the side of the U.S., something Filipinos should not forget and be ashamed of. Now, the Philippines is depending on Cambodia for help in case of a rice crisis in the country.

Cambodia’s economy over the past decades since the end of the Indochina (Vietnam) War has shown remarkable vitality and growth, and the major factor for this has been its ties with China.

Looking at its recent trade data and comparing with the Philippines I found Cambodia, a country with only 17-million population, exports to China hitting $15-billion while the Philippines managed only $10.65-billion (2023).

In 2024 Cambodia surpassed the Philippines in tourist arrivals with 6.7-million visitors or an increase of 55 percent, while the Philippines recorded only 5.4-million arrivals and massively lost Chinese tourists who are down to about 330,000 visitors compared to the 2019 record of 1.9-million Chinese tourists.

The Philippines lost at least $1.5-billion (around P 90-billion) tourism revenues from the loss of Chinese tourism arrivals that is desperately needed by our 6-million tourism industry workers.

According to Cambodian publication Khmer Times in its report last November 25, 2024, “China has been Cambodia’s largest source of foreign investment for 12 consecutive years, thanks to the bilateral diamond cooperation that led to the growth of investment and trade between the two countries.”

From January to October 2024 alone, Chinese enterprises signed investment agreements in Cambodia worth nearly $3 billion.

The Philippines lost horrendously and massively when it reversed President Duterte’s “separation from America” policy.

Under BBM, we separated from our close traditional ties with China and pivoted to America. Today the Philippines has lost billions in trade and investments from China and we stand to lose more despite our servility to America. This headline says it all: “Philippines may lose $1.9 billion in US exports if Trump raises tariffs.”