Cambodia receives more weapons from China

APD NEWS

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By APD Writer Kin Ratha

PHNOM PENH, March1 (APD)— Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday that many thousands tons of weapons provided by China already shipped and arrived Cambodia while the United States decided military aid to Cambodia over the setback of democracy after the dissolution of the main opposition party, Cambodia’s National Rescue Party (CNRP) in mid-November.

CNRP was dissolved by the Supreme Court on 16th November, following the arrest of the former opposition leader Kem Sokha on treason charge.

Speaking in the meeting with thousands workers on Wednesday in Kampong Speu province, Mr. Hun Sen said that the weapons arrived Cambodia on Tuesday night, and he called those weapons are special goods.

“Sorry for calling it special goods. The special goods I mean is something that could not let someone know what it is,” he said, “But it is not drug. [those goods] are stored in the containers with thousands tons of weight.”

“A country must have means to defense its country. Samdech [Defense Minister] Tea Banh has worked on it,” he said, “National Defense Minister have never transported flowers, but he transported weapons and amunition.”

Mr. Hun Sen did not elaborate on where the weapons were originated, purchased or donated, but confirmed that heavy weapons were stored in the containers.

On Tuesday, the White House issued a statement over suspend some aid programs for recent setbacks to democracy in Cambodia.

The statement said that the US government will suspend or curtail several Treasury, USAID, and American military assistance programs intended to support the General Department of Taxation, the capacity of local government authorities, and the Cambodian military.

The Cambodia and China will hold the second joint “Golden Dragon” military exercise which would be held in March in Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district and the exercise will include 280 Cambodian soldiers and 190 Chinese soldiers.

It will commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)