Abstract
As a small state, Cambodia viewed the ASEAN and China as almost equally important pillars of its foreign policy. Amid the intense strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, Cambodia faced the dilemma of how to maintain the ASEAN centrality without diplomatic cost to its key ally China, and how to balance its national interest with regional interest. In this context, the article aimed to explain the importance of the ASEAN as a cornerstone of Cambodia’s foreign policy, examine the motivations of Cambodia’s deep political embrace of the Asian giant, and underline its implications for the Indo-Pacific from the lens of small state foreign policy. The article was based on qualitative, empirical analysis that comprises primary and secondary data pertinent to the current topic. The article concluded that Cambodia leaned more towards China than it did towards the ASEAN, thus weakening its centrality in driving the broader regional architecture and that domestic politics was the primary driving force of Cambodia’s foreign policy towards that direction. At this juncture, Cambodia should step back from the present degree of its strategic engagement with China and look for ways to diversify its relations with other major powers while getting back on the democratic path and upholding human rights.
Highlights
The powershift and increasing strategic contestation and rivalry between great powers have led to regional uncertainty and volatility
The article concluded that Cambodia leaned more towards China than it did towards the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), weakening its centrality in driving the broader regional architecture and that domestic politics was the primary driving force of Cambodia‟s foreign policy towards that direction
The article concludes that since small states strategically rely on multilateral institutions such as the ASEAN and/or align with great power for their security and prosperity, at the time being, Cambodia leans more towards China than it does towards the ASEAN, weakening the ASEAN centrality amid Chinese efforts to create divisions within the regional bloc, and that domestic politics is the primary driving force of Cambodia‟s foreign policy directions
Summary
The powershift and increasing strategic contestation and rivalry between great powers have led to regional uncertainty and volatility. The internal discord poses a significant concern for the grouping‟s future to maintain its centrality in shaping the wider regional architecture in the Indo-Pacific Against this backdrop, the article sheds light on Cambodia‟s foreign policy amid geopolitical rivalry in the evolving Indo-Pacific regional order and its domestic political challenges compounded with Western pressure to enhance human rights and democracy. The article aims to examine the implications of China‟s growing influence on Cambodia‟s foreign policy on the ASEAN centrality in the changing regional order where great power competition significantly impacts small states‟ strategic options and how Cambodian domestic politics impacts its foreign policy choices. The article concludes that since small states strategically rely on multilateral institutions such as the ASEAN and/or align with great power for their security and prosperity, at the time being, Cambodia leans more towards China than it does towards the ASEAN, weakening the ASEAN centrality amid Chinese efforts to create divisions within the regional bloc, and that domestic politics is the primary driving force of Cambodia‟s foreign policy directions
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More From: Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, Institute for Research and European Studies - Bitola
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