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Thayer Consultancy Background Briefing:

ABN # 65 648 097 123


Cambodia’s Hun Manet Invited
to Attend the U.S. Pacific Area
Special Operations Conference
Carlyle A. Thayer
April 8, 2019
We request your assessment of Cambodia’s
relationship with the United States Army. Hun Manet, the son of Prime Minister Hun
Sen, has been invited to attend the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference in
Hawaii from 8 to 12 April.
Q1. What is this conference for?
ANSWER: The Pacific Area Special Operations Conference is held biennially by the
Pacific Area Special Forces Command (PASOC), a sub-unit reporting to the U.S. Indo-
Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) in Hawaii. Past conferences have been attended by
up to 200 special forces and military representatives from nearly two dozen
countries. The Pacific Area Special Operations Conference addresses a broad theme
of relevance to special forces with the objective of sharing information and best
practices about how to mitigate various challenges to regional security.
The conference is part of the INDOPACOM’s theater engagement plan that aims to
develop relations between the U.S. military and its counterparts in INDOPACOM’s
Area of Responsibility.
Q2. Is it important for Cambodia?
The invitation to General Hun Manet, Commander of the Cambodian Army, indicates
that despite the marked downturn in Cambodia-U.S. military relations that saw the
cancellation of planned exercises in 2017, the U.S. is committed to maintaining
military relations with Cambodia. This is an important opportunity for Hun Manet to
build personal relations with senior U.S. officials, as well as to build relationships with
military representatives across the Indo-Pacific.
Why is this important? It is clear that Cambodia’s defence policy views international
military cooperation – both in the region and internationally – as a key strategic
objective to advance the professionalism of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It is
in Cambodia’s interest to engage with the U.S. military where possible in order to
avoid near total military dependence on China. While not much can be expected in
present circumstances, it would be an opportunity cost for Cambodia if it did not
engage in military exchanges with the United States where possible, such as
peacekeeping assistance, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief
and combatting transnational crime (such as cyber warfare, etc.).
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Q3. What is your evaluation of the balance of relations between China and the U.S.
in Cambodia?
ANSWER: There is no real comparison to make. China is dominant in all fields –
economic, political, diplomatic and military. Cambodia and China raised bilateral
relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation in 2006. Hun Sen
is a strong supporter of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. China provided Cambodia with
an estimated US $100 million in military assistance in 2018.
The United States, in contrast, is heavily constrained by legislation restricting military-
to-military cooperation with governments that undermine democracy and violate
human rights. The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 Title IV, for example,
expresses serious concern over the rule of law and civil liberties in Cambodia and
prohibits any funding that benefits the Cambodian government. It was Cambodia that
cancelled military exercises with the United States and the ball is still in Cambodia’s
court.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “Cambodia’s Hun Manet Invited to Attend the
U.S. Pacific Area Special Operations Conference,” Thayer Consultancy Background
Brief, April 8, 2019. All background briefs are posted on Scribd.com (search for
Thayer). To remove yourself from the mailing list type, UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
other research support to selected clients. Thayer Consultancy was officially
registered as a small business in Australia in 2002.

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