Cambodia bans Taiwan flag out of respect for ‘One China’ policy
Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen stands in attention for the Chinese and Cambodian national anthems during the start of the Cambodia-China Business and Investment Forum outside of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. Pic: AP
7th February 2017
CAMBODIA’S prime minister said the Taiwanese flag has been banned because Cambodia follows the “One China” policy promoted by Beijing.
Hun Sen, in a speech to the Cambodian-Chinese Association posted on his Facebook page, said he welcomes investment from Taiwanese businessmen, but that respecting Chinese sovereignty means acknowledging Taiwan is a province of China.
He said in his remarks, delivered Saturday, that Taiwan’s flag shouldn’t be raised on its national day.
“We should not do anything that affects the respect of China’s sovereignty and independence through shaking hands and stepping on feet. I cannot do it,” Hun Sen said, as quoted by Cambodia Daily.
“We need to respect the sovereignty of China, which places the same value on respecting Cambodia’s sovereignty too.”
Hun Sen said since Taiwan was considered an independently-governed Chinese province, Cambodia should not raise the country’s flag.
“I request to people here: Please don’t raise the Taiwanese flag whenever you are gathering, even at the hotel during Taiwanese national holidays. It is not allowed,” he said.
China is impoverished Cambodia’s key ally and economic partner. It has provided millions of dollars in aid and investment over the past decade, granted it tariff-free status on hundreds of trade items, and written off debt.
In return, Cambodia supports China in international forums, including in Beijing’s ongoing territorial disputes with other Southeast Asian countries in the South China Sea.
Hun Sen added that Cambodia also considers Tibet, an autonomous province, as part of China, and that his decision to ban the Taiwanese flag is a continuation of Cambodia’s long-standing foreign policy towards its close ally.
“You need to understand what this foreign policy is—a policy that has been implemented since Sihanouk’s regime regarding China,” he said, alluding to Cambodia’s governance under King Norodom Sihanouk which lasted until the’1970s.
According to Cambodia Daily, this was not the first time the Cambodian leader has gone the extra mile to ensure minimal Taiwanese presence in the country.
In 2014, Hun Sen announced that he would block the Taiwan External Trade Development Council from opening an office in Phnom Penh due to his government’s strict observance of the One China Policy.
However, Hun Sen maintains that Cambodia welcomes Taiwanese investments.
“I only agree with doing business. I can do that. For instance, the direct flights from Taipei to Phnom Penh and from Taipei to Siem Reap,” he said.
Bilateral trade between Taiwan and Cambodia reached about US$744 million in 2015, a 1 percent drop on the previous year, according to statistics released by Taiwan’s Finance Ministry last year.
Taiwanese imports from Cambodia were valued at $66 million for the year, while Taiwan’s exports to Cambodia reached US$678 million, the daily reported.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press
