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Restricted bandwagoning? Cambodia's alignment with China and its ripple effects on regional security dynamics |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Title | Restricted bandwagoning? Cambodia's alignment with china and its ripple effects on regional security dynamics |
| Creator | Vannmony Svay |
| Contributor | Jittipat Poonkhum, Advisor |
| Publisher | Thammasat University |
| Publication Year | 2568 |
| Keyword | Cambodia-China relations, Ripple effects, Foreign policy, China’s influences, Regional security, Neoclassical realism, Restricted bandwagoning, Cambodia |
| Abstract | Amid growing Sino-American tensions, Cambodia’s foreign policy has oblique significantly towards China. Cambodia has received economic aid, trade, investments, and even political support. Cambodia’s alignment with China has reshaped regional dynamics in Southeast Asia, raising concerns about ASEAN unity, regional security, and geopolitical stability. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence Cambodia’s deepening relationship with China and examine its profound implications for regional dynamics in Southeast Asia. To achieve this objective, the paper will employ an exploratory qualitative approach, incorporating thematic analysis, archival research, content and historical analysis, and interviews with Cambodian experts. The paper uses neoclassical realism as its guiding theory and examines Cambodia’s foreign policy decisions through the lens of systemic pressure, domestic politics, and leadership perceptions while addressing the questions of how such decisions impact Southeast Asia's regional security dynamics. It explores how Cambodia’s alignment with China is classified as restricted bandwagoning, and is influenced by political, economic, and strategic considerations, and how such decisions affect regional stability and ASEAN cohesion. Using the designed framework and collected data, the paper argues that Cambodia’s alignment has triggered significant ripple effects across the region. It also reviews how Cambodia-China ties affects Cambodia-Vietnam relations, illustrating how Vietnam perceives this alignment as a challenge to its regional influence, particularly within ASEAN’s collective security framework. Cambodia’s support for China, including its 2012 veto of ASEAN’s joint declaration on the South China Sea, has further strained ASEAN unity and reduced the organization’s effectiveness in dealing with pressing security issues. Furthermore, Cambodia’s increasing dependence on China raises concerns about its ability to maintain diplomatic flexibility, as its foreign policy decisions become increasingly influenced by China’s strategic objectives. By integrating political, economic, and security dimensions, this paper fills a critical research gap in the literature by moving beyond Cambodia-China bilateral relations to broader regional dynamics. The paper highlights how Cambodia’s restricted bandwagoning contributes to ASEAN fragmentation while exposing how small states face challenges when navigating great power competitions. The paper contributes to the understanding of Cambodia’s strategic choices and their broader implications for regional security and diplomatic stability in Southeast Asia. |
