Thayer Consultancy Background Briefing:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

Cambodia: Hun Sens Growing
anti-Americanism
Carlyle A. Thayer
August 29, 2017

Sovannarith Keo, Broadcaster, Radio Free Asia Khmer Service, Washington D.C.:
Grateful if you could kindly share with us your comments/thoughts on growing anti-
American sentiment adopted by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling
elites. As you are well aware, Mr. Hun Sen's government has repeatedly accused the
U.S. government, its related NGOs and media outlets of working behind the scene to
sabotage or overthrow his legitimate government. My questions are as follows:
Q1. What are possible reasons behind such growing anti-American sentiment and
conspiracy as adopted by the ruling elites and Mr. Hun Sen's government?
ANSWER: There are proximate and historical legacy reasons for the surge in anti-
American sentiment by members of the Hun Sen regime in Cambodia. The proximate
reason is that Hun Sen and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) won the commune
elections but did not do spectacularly. Hun Sen viewed outside forces, such as the
U,S.-funded National Democratic Institution and Radio Free Asia, as playing a partisan
role. Hun Sen wants to win the 2018 national elections convincingly and now that the
commune elections are over he is methodologically going about disrupting and
repressing opposition to his rule.
The historical legacy factor is that the U.S., and western liberal democracies in Europe,
Australia and Japan have always had a negative perception of Hun Sen, first as a
former Khmer Rouge military officer, then as a lackey of communist Vietnam and then
after 1993 as the main obstacle to liberal democracy in Cambodia. These sentiments
have surfaced at each national election since 1993 and led to outside support to the
various opposition parties during this period. Hun Sen is responding to an historical
sense of victimhood.
Q2. Is it the right choice for Cambodian government to do so? What are the good and
the bad points?
ANSWER: Cambodia should never burn its bridges and leave itself dependent on one
patron such as China. The good points for Hun Sen are that China proclaims that it
supports non-interference in Cambodia's internal affairs. Hun Sen and the CPP benefit
from Chinese economic, diplomatic and political support. This serves to insulate
Cambodia from western interference and sanctions. Hun Sen is free to act with
 2

impunity domestically as long as Chinese business and political interests are not
negatively affected,
The negative side to dependency on China is two-fold. First, there is the opportunity
cost of a decline in western assistance and support. Second, "the piper plays the tune"
and a dependent Cambodia will have to do what Beijing wants. Already it is evident
that Hun Sen is adept at anticipating what China wants and acting accordingly. He is a
sycophant par excellence.
Q3. What should Cambodia and the U.S. do to correct such growing mistrust and
hatred so that history during Sihanouk's Sangkum Reastr Niyum and the Khmer
Republic will not be repeated?
ANSWER: It takes two to tango and there is no indication that Hun Sen will change
tack so quickly. He views himself as the aggrieved party.
President Donald Trump has given no indication that he is interested in Cambodia in
general or in promoting democracy and human rights in particular. The State
Department is understaffed and likely will be underfunded. Thus, the U.S. Mission in
Cambodia has few levers of influence. The best the U.S. can do is ride out the storm,
as it appears to be doing in the Philippines, and continue to support NGOs and human
security in Cambodia. The U.S. could - if only Trump supported multilateralism - work
closely with the donor community for a long-term plan to assist Cambodia and its
development. No matter what the United States does it will continue to face the brick
wall of one-party rule in Cambodia by an authoritarian leader, Hun Sen. Historical
legacies will continue to cast a shadow on Cambodia's future.

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