The US protection secretary will go to Cambodia, one in all China’s closest allies, after regional talks
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — U.S. Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to make an official go to to Cambodia, one in all China’s closest allies in Southeast Asia, after holding talks together with his Chinese language counterpart at an annual safety convention in Singapore, officers mentioned.
A U.S. Protection Division assertion issued in Washington on Friday mentioned Austin would journey subsequent week to Singapore, Cambodia and France.
He’ll go to Cambodia June 4 after attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Among the many talks he’s planning there’s one together with his Chinese language counterpart Adm. Dong Jun, the Protection Division mentioned. The encounter could be a part of an effort to patch up ties which have deteriorated over Beijing’s aggressive policies towards Taiwan and its huge territorial claims within the South China Sea.
U.S. relations with Cambodia have been frosty for years, largely due to Phnom Penh’s shut ties with China. Washington has additionally been vocal about what it sees as Cambodia’s poor human rights file, which has seen persevering with clampdowns on political dissidents and critics.
Cambodia is Beijing’s closest ally in Southeast Asia, and Washington is especially involved that a naval base in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand has been upgraded with Chinese language help to function a strategic outpost for China’s navy.
Cambodian officers deny China could have any particular basing privileges and say their nation maintains a impartial protection posture.
The Protection Division assertion mentioned that Austin will meet with senior officers in Cambodia on his first go to there since attending a gathering of Asian protection ministers in November 2022.
“We are actually working with the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh to rearrange his conferences with the Cambodian leaders,” Cambodian Overseas Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry mentioned Saturday in response to a question from The Related Press. “The go to will likely be one other essential step to advance the Cambodia-U.S. relations.”
It would even be Austin’s first go to to Cambodia since Hun Manet grew to become prime minister final 12 months, succeeding his father Hun Sen, who held workplace for 38 years. The handover has led to hypothesis of a reset in U.S.-Cambodian relations, although to this point Hun Manet has maintained his father’s insurance policies.
Hun Manet was Cambodia’s military commander earlier than changing into prime minister final August. Each Austin and he graduated from the U.S. Navy Academy at West Level — Austin in 1975 and Hun Manet in 1999, as Cambodia’s first cadet there.
From Cambodia, Austin will go to France to attend occasions commemorating the 60th anniversary of the World War II D-Day touchdown, the Protection Division mentioned.
On Friday, Austin underwent a medical procedure at Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart in Washington, resuming his responsibility after quickly transferring energy to his deputy, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder mentioned in a press release.
Austin is constant to cope with bladder points that arose in December following his therapy for prostate most cancers, Ryder mentioned.
