RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CAMBODIA AND CHINA UNDER THE BRI FRAMEWORK AND IMPACT ON SOUTHEAST ASIA SECURITY

Abstract

This research answered to 3 main objectives; 1. to study the goals of China on security the relationship with Cambodia and its importance under the BRI framework 2. to study the factors that led to Cambodia - China cooperation under the BRI framework 3. to study the inclined impacts of Cambodia – China cooperation under the BRI framework on Southeast Asia security. The research framework applied the concept of Security Complex. The data obtained from both sources were analyzed and elaborated by means of descriptive writing. 1. The research result found that the goals of China on security the relationship with Cambodia and its importance under the BRI framework was protecting the China’s oversea interests and wide-spreading Chinese influences on Southeast Asia. Cambodia then became one of the main headquarters carefully placed by China using BRI framework cooperation as a crucial driven function. 2. The factors that led to Cambodia cooperation with China under the BRI framework consisted of 1) internal factor, the Cambodian government under the leadership of Hun Sen intended to use project under BRI framework to generate economic prosperity which would advocate their political stability 2) external factor, Cambodia needed China protections and supports to prevail in the Southeast Asia region. Therefore, the relationship between the two nations was win-win. 3. The inclined impacts of Cambodia – China cooperation under the BRI framework on Southeast Asia security were 1) the wide-spreading influences of China into Southeast Asia 2) the attempt of powerful nations to maintain the balance of powers in Southeast Asia 3) the relationship and security of Southeast Asia nations