The Khmer Times, 8 August 2018 One of the most interesting issues at the 51st Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings in Singapore from July 30 to August 4 was the perception of Asean member states on the evolving concept of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), collectively initiated by Japan, the United States, … Continue reading Cambodia’s Take on FOIP

The Khmer Times, July 13, 2018 Complex domestic politics and geopolitics aside, Cambodia’s economic outlook remains robust and vibrant. Over the past two decades, Cambodia’s growth rate has been slightly over 7 per cent. Remarkably, in 2016, Cambodia graduated from its status as a least developed country and became a lower-middle-income country. The trend continues … Continue reading Cambodia’s economic outlook

The Khmer Times, July 16, 2018 Cambodia’s foreign policy strategy has been chiefly shaped and driven by “economic pragmatism,” meaning the alignment of foreign policy with economic development interests, in which there are two main approaches: transforming the international environment into a source of national development and diversifying strategic partnerships based on the calculation of … Continue reading Economic Pragmatism in Cambodia’s Foreign Policy

The Khmer Times, 23 July 2018 Cambodia’s upcoming general election on July 29 looks set to be its most controversial since its first national election in 1993. In late 2017, the main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was dissolved and 118 of its senior members were banned from politics based on what … Continue reading Cambodia after 29 July General Election

The Khmer Times, 11 May 2018 The opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) stunningly won the Malaysia election with 113 seats out of 222 seats. It marked an end to the six-decade rule of Barisan Nasional (BN) which only received 79 seats compared to 131 seats in 2013 election. Some regional observers called it a “people … Continue reading A New Dawn Now for Malaysia?

The Khmer Times, 18 May 2018 Early this week, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen lauded the role of South Korea in Southeast Asia especially under the leadership of President Moon Jae-In and his New Southern Policy which was announced last year. It is a critical turning point in South Korea’s regional diplomacy. The “Asean-Korea Future-oriented … Continue reading S.Korea’s Role Welcomed

The Khmer Times, 13 June 2018 Open regionalism remains on track in the Mekong region although there is an anti-globalisation wave and rising protectionism in other parts of the world. Regional integration has been and will be one of the main foreign policy objectives of the Mekong countries. The 8th ACMECS (Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation … Continue reading ACMECS and CLMV Need Reform