30-5-2024 (PHNOM PENH) In a move that has sparked concerns both domestically and internationally, Cambodia will commence work on the controversial $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal in August, according to Prime Minister Hun Manet. The Chinese-backed project aims to link the capital, Phnom Penh, to the sea, but has raised fears in neighboring Vietnam that it could potentially be used by Chinese warships and reduce Cambodia’s dependence on Vietnamese ports.
Environmentalists have also voiced their apprehensions, warning that the 180-kilometer canal could potentially reduce water flow to the Mekong River, one of the world’s most biodiverse waterways.
Cambodia has received billions of dollars in infrastructure investments from China, solidifying its position as one of Beijing’s closest regional allies under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Hun Manet, the son of the former leader, stated that the Funan Techo Canal would be primarily funded by Cambodians, with the government currently in talks with a Chinese company for further investment.
“We will do it now, we can’t wait for anybody any longer,” Hun Manet said in a speech on Thursday, underlining the government’s determination to proceed with the project.
Opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy, who lives in exile, has alleged that the project would serve the interests of China. However, Hun Manet insisted that the waterway, part of Beijing’s massive Belt and Road Initiative, would solely serve Cambodia’s interests.
“(We) do it within the Cambodian territory for the Cambodian people and for the interest of Cambodia,” he said, emphasizing the project’s domestic focus.
The canal, which will be 100 meters wide and 5.4 meters deep, is designed to connect Phnom Penh with Cambodian ports on the Gulf of Thailand.
Coinciding with the announcement, Cambodia and China concluded their largest annual military exercises on Thursday, involving several Chinese warships and hundreds of Chinese military personnel.
In December, two Chinese warships made a first visit to a Cambodian naval base, raising concerns among the United States that the base, located near the port city of Sihanoukville, could be used to boost China’s influence in the Gulf of Thailand.
Cambodian officials have repeatedly denied that the base is intended for use by any foreign power.
As the controversial canal project moves forward, it will be under close scrutiny from both regional and global observers, who will be watching for any signs of potential military or strategic implications beyond the stated economic and logistical benefits touted by the Cambodian government.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to visit Cambodia on Tuesday, adding further significance to the ongoing developments and highlighting the geopolitical tensions surrounding the region.
