U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman arrived in Cambodia on Tuesday for the second leg of a regional tour, making her the most senior U.S. official to visit China’s closest ally in Southeast Asia in almost a decade and likely the Biden Administration’s attempt at engaging with the region.The visit also takes place as China has become an increasingly important economic ally for Cambodia, which has seen its ties with the United States and the European Union deteriorate in recent years. “There are some issues that the United States doesn’t understand clearly about Cambodia and that Cambodia does not understand the intentions of the United States,” Phay Siphan told Reuters.
To ‘Reinvigorate’ and ‘Repair’ Biden Sends Top Foreign Policy Diplomat to Cambodia, ASEAN Nations, Analysts Say .
John D. Ciorciari, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, said a visit by the senior State Department staffer could be motivated by strong Chinese influence in the country.
“The U.S. has carrots to offer Cambodia, including vaccine access directly and through the Quad initiative, but that won’t be delivered in any numbers until the fall at the earliest.” Poling said.
“That certainly puts the U.S. in a bind as Cambodia is in desperate need of vaccines now to confront the growing wave of infections in the country, and China is very publicly delivering vaccines while the US and the Quad still are not.”
“That certainly puts the U.S. in a bind as Cambodia is in desperate need of vaccines now to confront the growing wave of infections in the country, and China is very publicly delivering vaccines while the US and the Quad still are not.”
According to some analysts, the U.S. fears that Cambodia’s over reliance on China could impact its leadership over ASEAN next year, including finalization of the South China Sea Code of Conducts.
VIA:
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/u-deputy-secretary-state-visits-063947685.html
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/to-reinvigorate-and-repair-biden-sends-top-foreign-policy-diplomat-to-cambodia-asean-nations-analysts-say/5910759.html
