Peer reviewed analysis from world leading experts

Are China’s gifts a blessing or a curse for Cambodia?

Reading Time: 4 mins
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen stand as they hold bilateral talks in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 11 January 2018 (Photo: Reuters/Samrang Pring).

In Brief

This year marks the 60th anniversary of Cambodia–China diplomatic ties, and the relationship between the two countries has never been closer. China is increasingly becoming Cambodia’s most important economic and diplomatic partner. In the last two years alone, Cambodia signed more than 30 bilateral agreements with China.

Share

  • A
  • A
  • A

Share

  • A
  • A
  • A

China was Cambodia’s largest foreign direct investor for five straight years from 2013 to 2017, with Chinese investment in the country totalling US$5.3 billion over that period. In 2017, Cambodia attracted fixed-asset investment of US$1.4 billion from China, which alone accounted for 27 per cent of total investment in Cambodia.

Bilateral trade between Cambodia and China reached more than US$5.1 billion in 2017. Cambodian exports to China consisted mostly of agricultural products like rice, cassava, cashew nuts, palm oil and rubber, while imports from China to Cambodia were mainly cars, motorcycles, construction materials, fabric, cigarettes and fertilisers.

By 2017 Cambodia had received approximately US$4.2 billion from China in the form of grants and soft loans. And by the end of 2017 the Cambodian government had accumulated a public external debt of US$9.6 billion, around 42 per cent of which is owed to China.

China has transformed Cambodia in many significant ways. Chinese money has allowed Cambodia to improve its infrastructure, its regional connectivity and its competitiveness. By the end of 2017, more than 2000 kilometres of road, seven large bridges and a new container terminal at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port had been constructed with support from China.

Chinese investment in the textile and clothing industry also contributes significantly to Cambodia’s socio-economic development by creating jobs for more than half a million Cambodian workers.

In the tourism sector, China has so far invested in several large-scale projects including an international resort complex in Koh Kong province and a resort complex and five-star hotel in Preah Sihanouk province. Chinese tourists to Cambodia surpassed one million in 2017, injecting around US$700 million into the Cambodian economy.

China is also the largest foreign investor in Cambodia’s energy sector, with accumulated capital of more than US$7.5 billion in seven hydropower plants and about US$4 billion in two coal power plants.

China’s growing dominance is met with equally growing concern in Cambodia. Despite the economic gains, too much dependence on China comes with significant commitment and risk. Reliance on China’s aid may induce Cambodia to fall into a debt trap, resulting in a loss of autonomy as a sovereign state and the deterioration of its relations with other ASEAN member states.

The lack of transparency and accountability of China’s projects is also causing social and environmental challenges in Cambodia. Criticism that Chinese companies are racing to exploit Cambodia’s resources while paying little regard to international best development practices are common among civil society actors.

The Kamchay dam, the first large-scale Chinese investment project in Cambodia, is a telling example. The dam destroyed 2000 hectares of productive forest, threatened animal species, lowered water quality and negatively affected the livelihood of local communities.

Chinese firm Union Development was awarded a concession of nearly 40,000 hectares — almost four times the amount allowed under Cambodian law — to develop a multi-billion dollar tourism hub in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province. Human rights groups allege that fishermen who had lived in the area for generations were summarily evicted, taken inland and told that they were now farmers.

Chinese investment in Cambodia’s real estate market is almost exclusively aimed at the Cambodian upper class, as well as Chinese tourists and businessmen. This is driving market prices up, making housing unaffordable for most Cambodians.

Chinese investment is also transforming Sihanoukville, once Cambodia’s premier seaside resort, into a bustling casino town. The unprecedented surge in Chinese tourists and casino development in Sihanoukville is benefitting a small group Cambodia’s rich elite, but many other Cambodians are being driven out of the area by the skyrocketing cost of living.

Even though Chinese investment is bringing wealth to Cambodia, this wealth is mainly kept within Cambodia’s Chinese community. Chinese residents and visitors in Cambodia buy from Chinese businesses, eat in Chinese restaurants and stay in Chinese hotels. The trickle-down effect to local businesses is minimal.

China’s economic power and influence can be a source for sustainable development in Cambodia, but for this to happen requires strong leadership from both countries. Both sides must make concerted efforts to promote transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in development projects.

Shared responsibility and multi-stakeholder partnership should be the guiding principles of foreign investment in Cambodia to ensure that Chinese investment and aid contributes to Cambodia’s economic, social and environmental progress in the long run.

Pheakdey Heng is the founder and chairman of Enrich Institute.

Comments are closed.

Support Quality Analysis

Donate
The East Asia Forum office is based in Australia and EAF acknowledges the First Peoples of this land — in Canberra the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people — and recognises their continuous connection to culture, community and Country.

Article printed from East Asia Forum (https://www.eastasiaforum.org)

Copyright ©2024 East Asia Forum. All rights reserved.