In a move that’s already stirring the regional pot, Cambodia is gearing up to break ground on a massive $1.7 billion canal linking its bustling capital Phnom Penh to the sea. Prime Minister Hun Manet, following in the footsteps of his father, announced the project with a determined “we can’t wait for anybody any longer” attitude.
This isn’t just any canal. The Chinese-backed Funan Techo canal has set off alarm bells in neighboring Vietnam, where fears are mounting that it could pave the way for Chinese warships and lessen Cambodia’s dependence on Vietnamese ports. Environmentalists, too, are sounding the alarm, worried that the 180-kilometer (110-mile) waterway could mess with the Mekong River’s delicate balance, a river teeming with biodiversity.
Cambodia, known for cozying up to China, has soaked up billions in Chinese infrastructure investments under former leader Hun Sen. Now, his son Hun Manet is pushing forward, asserting that this mega-project will mostly be home-grown and hinting at ongoing talks with a Chinese company for even more cash.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Sam Rainsy, from his vantage point in exile, isn’t buying the official line. He’s called out the canal as a ploy to further Chinese interests under the guise of Cambodia’s benefit. Hun Manet, however, remains steadfast, insisting the project is “for the Cambodian people and for the interest of Cambodia.”
Come August, a groundbreaking ceremony will mark the start of this grand venture, which will carve out a canal 100 meters (328 feet) wide and 5.4 meters (17.7 feet) deep, creating a direct link from Phnom Penh to Cambodian ports on the Gulf of Thailand.
This development comes hot on the heels of Cambodia and China wrapping up their biggest joint military exercises to date, featuring Chinese warships and hundreds of Chinese military personnel. Just a few months back, Chinese warships made a landmark visit to a Cambodian naval base, a move that had the United States raising eyebrows over China’s intentions in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodian officials, however, have been quick to deny any foreign military ambitions for the base near Sihanoukville.
As if the geopolitical stakes weren’t high enough, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Cambodia next Tuesday. With these new developments, it’s clear that the Funan Techo canal is not just a local project but a focal point in the complex dance of regional power dynamics.
(Source: Radio Free Asia | The Diplomat | Lowy Institute | SCMP)
