ARTICLES

3 May 2024

Cambodia’s Outreach to the West Does Not Change China’s Centrality

Lye Liang Fook

The view that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet is recharting foreign policy — by reaching out to Western countries and relying less on China — is overblown. China remains Cambodia’s closest friend due to its inside track to the Cambodian elite and its pervasive influence in Cambodia’s economy.

23 Apr 2024

Vietnam’s Geopolitical Anxiety Over Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal

Chansambath Bong

Vietnam’s concerns about a China-backed canal project in Cambodia are making some waves. Cambodia’s new leader has a chance to calm the waters.

Cambodia International Relations Mekong River Vietnam

29 Feb 2024

Cambodia and Japan: Firm Friends Amid Great Power Rivalry

Chhay Lim

Cambodia and Japan have elevated their bilateral ties. But this is not without challenges, given different positions in the ensuing Sino-U.S. rivalry.

Cambodia China Japan

26 Dec 2023

2023 Top 10

Making Sense of Cambodia’s Reaction to AUKUS

Chansambath Bong

Cambodia’s reaction to the trilateral nuclear-technology sharing deal between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States can best be described as lukewarm. It would be an oversimplification to say that AUKUS will have no adverse effects on Southeast Asia.

2023 Top 10 AUKUS Cambodia

30 Nov 2023

Structural Transformation for Inclusive Growth in Cambodia

Jayant Menon

Cambodia’s economic aspirations must be girded by strenuous efforts to overcome its constraints, internal and external, through diversification and reform.

Cambodia Cambodian Economy

20 Sep 2023

Cambodia’s Political Transition

Sophal Ear

In this episode, Dr William Choong, Managing Editor of Fulcrum, and Dr Jayant Menon, Senior Fellow at ISEAS, talk to Prof Sophal Ear, Associate Professor at the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, about the political transition in Cambodia.

Cambodia Cambodia-China Relations Dialogues at Fulcrum

24 Jul 2023

Why Cambodia Should Hedge by Engaging India More

Chanrith Ngin|Bunthorn Khath

Cambodia has become increasingly dependent on China and the West. It is high time for Phnom Penh to hedge by engaging India more.

Cambodia India

4 Jul 2023

Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement: A Cambodian Perspective

Chheang Vannarith

This Long Read examines the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), which came into force in January 2022. It argues that in order to promote industrialisation and export diversification, developing countries need to adopt an integrated industrial-trade-investment strategy. China, as a global trading power, can play a significant role in this process.

Cambodia Cambodia-China Relations

22 May 2023

Cambodia Has Benefited From BRI projects, but Must be More Strategic Going Forward

Jayant Menon

Cambodia’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative has strengthened relations with China and brought net benefits, but also highlighted the risks of over-reliance on one country and the need for a more comprehensive framework for evaluating new investments.

Belt and Road Initiative Cambodia Cambodia-China Relations