China gives Cambodia 19 millions military aid before meet
Vong Sokheng, 29 May 2012
China granted Cambodia about $19 million in defence aid yesterday as
part of a military agreement signed between the two countries.
The
pledged funds came less than 24 hours before Chinese Defence Minister
Liang Guanglie is scheduled to speak at the ASEAN Defence Ministers
meeting, ostensibly to explain the country’s stance on the disputed
South China Sea.
ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia
and Brunei, along with China and Taiwan, claim portions of the
resource-rich body of water, and it has been a flashpoint of conflict
for years.
In recent weeks, the temperature has heated back up,
with China and the Philippines sending boats to a disputed reef that
both countries claim.
“It is good that is he is going to explain
China’s stance directly to ASEAN defence ministers,” Cambodian Minister
of Defence Tea Banh said in explaining Cambodia’s decision to invite
China’s top-ranking defence official to speak.
Calls to the
embassies of Vietnam, the Philippines and China seeking further
clarification about today’s meeting were not returned yesterday.
Last
week, representatives from ASEAN countries polished a draft of a Code
of Conduct governing relations in the South China Sea.
The final version is due to arrive in China over the summer.
The military agreement was signed after a closed-door bilateral discussion between Tea Banh and China’s Guanglie.
Guanglie came to Cambodia on Sunday for a four-day official visit. He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Tea Banh said that China will continue to support members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces who train in the country.
“Chinese
assistance is greatly contributing to building Cambodian army’s
capacity in national defence, and the military co-operation between
China and Cambodia has really improved,” Tea Banh said.
He also reaffirmed Cambodia’s stance to support the “One-China” policy, in which China claims sovereignty over Taiwan.
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