Recently, Cambodia has exhibited an unprecedented level of activity on the international stage.
In August, the groundbreaking of the Dechoeng Phnom Penh Canal garnered widespread attention, bringing hope for Cambodia's development.
However, before the excitement around the canal could subside, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet suddenly announced on September 20th the withdrawal from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle (CLV-DTA) cooperation framework, shocking countries in the Southeast Asian Peninsula.
Established 25 years ago, the CLV-DTA has played a role in promoting economic and regional cooperation among the three countries. What does Hun Manet's sudden exit really signify?
According to Cambodian officials, this move aims to quell domestic "noise," as opposition parties have leveraged the CLV-DTA to criticize the government, claiming that Cambodia is treated unfairly in the distribution of benefits and faces the risk of territorial concessions.
Some Cambodians abroad have also expressed strong dissatisfaction with this cooperation framework, even threatening a color revolution.
To maintain domestic stability, Hun Manet's government opted for a strategy of "cutting off a limb to survive."
Although Hun Manet's decision seems reasonable, analysts believe there may be deeper motives behind it.
The voices of the opposition are not new; the Cambodian government has the capacity to handle these extreme comments. Why, then, choose to withdraw directly?
This action may negatively affect Cambodia's relationship with Vietnam and lead to Cambodia's diplomatic isolation, potentially escalating tensions in the Southeast Asian Peninsula.
Economically, Hun Manet's move will raise concerns among neighboring countries regarding regional cooperation, affecting Cambodia's business credibility.
A scholar noted that the impact of this withdrawal could be compared to "Brexit," with potentially serious consequences.
Nevertheless, whether Hun Manet's decision was genuinely made to avoid external pressure or for other reasons is worth exploring in depth.
One possibility is that the Hun Manet government indeed hopes to stabilize domestic conditions by withdrawing, thus preventing the opposition from continuing political attacks via the CLV-DTA.
On the other hand, perhaps the Cambodian government believes that staying in the CLV-DTA brings no substantial benefits and instead leads to constant criticism, prompting the decision to exit.
Since its establishment in 1999, the CLV-DTA has failed to effectively promote regional economic development, and there are still shortcomings in infrastructure and coordination among the three countries.
Cambodia's exit is not only a response to the domestic political environment but also reflects the country's challenges in regional cooperation.
For genuine development to occur, countries must take regional construction seriously, engaging in pragmatic cooperation rather than merely superficial gestures.
As demonstrated by China's promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative, only by implementing real actions can the dawn of development be realized.
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