Cambodian academy says international relations are | RSS.com
A senior official at the Royal Academy of Cambodia has said China’s upcoming joint military drills with Thailand should not be seen as unusual, stressing that Cambodia’s close ties with Beijing do not prevent either side from strengthening relations with other countries.
Kin Phea, president of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy, wrote on Facebook on September 15 that international relations have no permanent friends or enemies, only interests. He noted that Cambodia and China are not bound by a military alliance like NATO, nor are they tied in the way Japan and South Korea are to the United States.
According to Kin Phea, every nation seeks to expand its diplomatic links as widely as possible to secure strategic benefits in politics, diplomacy, security, economics, and culture. He argued that Cambodia should not feel uneasy about China conducting air force drills with Thailand, since Beijing has broader strategic and economic interests with Bangkok, including trade, investment, and arms sales.
He added that while Cambodia cannot expect military intervention from China, the two countries can support each other diplomatically and politically in ways that do not harm their mutual interests. He urged Phnom Penh to deepen relations with multiple powers rather than rely too heavily on any single one.
Kin Phea also warned that global powers profit from regional conflicts, since wars create opportunities for arms sales. He said this reality should remind smaller nations like Cambodia to avoid being drawn into conflicts that serve the interests of larger states.
The comments came after Chinese state media Xinhua reported on September 15 that China and Thailand would hold a joint air force exercise called Falcon Strike in Thailand from mid-September until the end of the month.
Observers note that Thailand has allocated about 8.5 billion dollars for military modernization in 2025 alone. Over the past decade, Bangkok has purchased between 30 and 40 percent of its military equipment from China, including armored vehicles, advanced artillery systems, and 155-millimeter howitzers.
