Vietnam Silent On PM Hun Sen Shifting His Allegiance Toward China

By: Sokha Ou-Uun 10/21/20

For years, people who oppose PM Hun Sen have been screaming that the PM is the puppet to Hanoi, and Vietnam has put scores of Vietnamese into Cambodian economic, political, and military infrastructures such a way that PM Hun Sen couldn't do anything without first being blessed by Vietnam. In another word, Vietnam has full control of Cambodian economic, political, and military arenas.

Recently, we are seeing a shift toward China by PM Hun Sen. There have been influxes of Chinese coming to Cambodia to conduct business, including some illegal ones as well. There were plenty of military aids to the Government of Hun Sen, and most recently the takeover of Cambodian Naval Base at Ream, a coastal town in Sihanouk Ville by the Chinese. Since Vietnam considers China a sworn enemy, except during the Vietnam War when it needed China's help, I am wondering why Vietnam allows this shift. Does Vietnam really have full control of Cambodia? Has Vietnam given up on the ideas of annexing Cambodia?

To answer some of these questions, let’s look back to what happened to Cambodia in the past, especially during the Khmer Rouge era when the three players, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China were the participants. During the war between 1970 and 1975, Vietnam was the major player controlling and fighting alongside the Khmer Rouge until the Fall of Phnom Penh. I have no doubt that Vietnam was in control of Khmer Rouge during and after the war, and the Vietnamese infiltration was probably at record level because back then, the Khmer Rouge government was in a state of disarray.

After the war, Pol Pot was also shifting his allegiance toward China. Vietnam did not say anything and allowed China’s influence to grow and Pol Pot to commit all the atrocity upon innocent people of Cambodia. Millions of Cambodians had died or suffered greatly in the hands of Pol Pot and China, while Vietnam laid low under the radar until the atrocity had reached its peak and the people would be willing to do or accept anything just to get out of it. That was when Vietnam started to act. Vietnam invaded Cambodia and toppled Pol Pot regime while the international community and Cambodians themselves applauded the invasion. It only took about a week for Vietnam to evict Pol Pot. I believe the invasion would have not been achieved so quickly if it was not for Vietnam already had their people inside Pol Pot’s infrastructure.

Back then, Vietnam allowed its puppet to temporarily shift toward China, and atrocity to take place in order to build a case for its takeover that followed, and to convince international community that the invasion was indeed a humanitarian mission. Does the recent shift toward China by PM Hun Sen follow the same Vietnamese script? I think so.

Presently, experts have been predicting that a war would break out in the region because of the South China Sea issues. Since it would involve world super powers, China and the US, it would be classified as world war with most Asian countries including Vietnam on the American side, and Cambodia on the Chinese side. The prediction is that the American side would win the war. If this is the case, here is what will happen.

As always, the winner of a world war would rearrange and change the geography of countries involved. All areas of the South China Sea would be divided and gifted to American allies. Cambodia will be rewarded to Vietnam. With plenty of Vietnamese already in the country and many Vietnamese-style landmarks already erected across Cambodia, the transition without a doubt, will be as smooth as silk.

And that is the reason why Vietnam has been turning blind eyes to PM Hun Sen shifting toward China. 

JUST GIVE ME A BLANK CHECK FOR THE GOOD CAUSE

There is a battle in the Congress on the Corona Bill. Democrats want to negotiate to add oversights, and GOP just want it to pass. GOP supporters were chiming in by simply stating that the Democrats are blocking it without bothering to find out why.

Instead of crying, they should work together. Instead of ignoring Democrat's concerns, GOP should try to find ways to resolve those concerns. Democrats give their reasons and concerns; they did not just cry "NO" like children. Where there reasons, there should be room to negotiate and have a bill that is fair to every American.

At the end the bill was passed. Generally, Americans would receive a one time check of $1200.  As always, the big winners are big corporations because President Donald Trump is very much concerned about the economy during the upcoming election. 

Economy is the only thing that could save him, since most Americans do not mind foregoing humility and decency as long as they can have money in their pockets.

Since Donald Trump took office, morality has been pushed away from our way of life. We are no longer being hold as a country that others can look up to when it comes to morality.  To be fair, this may have been long coming because if it was not, how could  a man without any regrets or remorse on his past misconducts, claiming that "with money, one can do whatever he/she wants to." got elected?

Since President Trump took office, he and his ass kissers (KA) have been trying to discount the existing check-and-balance process of our government. He wants to run the country the way he wants; that is the reason he and his KA very much wanted this to be a blank check.

"JUST GIVE IT TO ME!"  

Fortunately, there are still good people in the Congress and the Bill was passed with some oversights attached to it.