U.S. Warship Makes Pivotal Visit, Sam Rainsy Talks Flower Power, Record Tourist Boom Expected
Good morning, Cambodia. It's Friday, December 20, and this is your Weekly Dispatch.
NEXT DOOR: A proposal for Vietnamese studies programs in some public universities was met with outrage and quickly shot down by education officials. Teaching the Vietnamese language remains forbidden in state schools.
LIFE LINES: The Kingdom’s average life expectancy has reached 76.6 years, an impressive 17-year jump from 59 years in 2000. The milestone surpasses the global average of 72 years, and is approaching the U.S at 77.4.
EMPTY NET: Cambodia’s national team goalkeeper was accused of selling goals to Singapore in a 2-1 loss in the ASEAN Football Championship. Local fans were furious and match-fixing allegations are under investigation.
THE LEDE
Big Waves
The big surprise this week was the USS Savannah, the first American warship to dock in Sihanoukville since 2016 — and under the ever-watchful eyes of Beijing.
The unexpected port of call, reportedly requested by Washington, comes after years of White House criticism for the CPP-led government’s corruption, rights abuse and environmental crimes. China’s new naval base at Ream makes the arrival even more intriguing.
The Strongman went quickly to work: praising the visit in lavish terms, meeting with U.S. Embassy officials, and pushing for stronger bilateral ties under the incoming Trump administration. What he told China was anyone’s guess.
The Kingdom is again navigating two great powers — with Hun Sen at the helm.
Flower Power
Sam Rainsy wants a revolution. Inspired by the abrupt downfall of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, the long-time opposition leader called on supporters to rise up against the ruling CPP.
“No dynasty is eternal,” he posted on Facebook. “No one knows what will happen in the future #BloomingFlower.”
It’s unclear what the hashtag means, or if anyone except the government is listening. The Khmer-language version has gained little traction on Facebook or X, and the English version is a thirst trap for shirtless Asian dudes.
Even so, the government’s not taking any chances. It’s already preparing for 2028 elections, and using its usual playbook — control the media, monitor public opinion, steamroll the opposition — with plans for total domination.
Water Waste
The mighty Mekong and its hydrological offspring, the Tonle Sap river and lake, are clogged with plastic waste, with the crisis expected to triple by 2040.
From Tibet to the South China Sea, the great river accumulates plastic waste through runoff, dumping and a deluge of single-use packaging from upstream nations along its winding route. The problem is driven by the proliferation and mismanagement of plastic itself. Recycling, incineration and landfills aren't working.
The Mekong now deposits more than 40,000 tons of plastic into the ocean every year. Unless action is taken, the future is grim for its biodiverse ecosystems and the 70 million people it supports.
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TALKING POINTS
Trump Trade
Cambodia’s garment industry is celebrating the return of Donald Trump, with experts predicting that stiff U.S. tariffs on China will force mainland-based companies to shift investments and factories abroad. The Kingdom’s textile exports surged to a record $10 billion this year, a trend expected to continue into 2025.
Bottom Line
The Ministry of Economy and Finance rejected claims that China had stopped lending to the Kingdom, calling the reports ridiculous. Many projects are in the pipeline, a spokesperson said, and more grants and loans are on the way.
Island Escape
The number of Indonesians registered with their embassy in Phnom Penh surged more than 630% last year. At least 120,000 Indonesians live and work in Cambodia, according to Jakarta, many in the illegal online gaming industry.
Stamp Counter
Tourism officials are forecasting a record 6.7 million tourists this year, surpassing the previous milestone of 6.6 million set in 2019. Even so, only about 1 million are expected to visit Angkor Wat — less than half of the 2.5 million recorded in 2018.
Foreign Tongue
The Ministry of Education rejected a second request from Hanoi to create a Centre for Vietnamese Studies at the RUPP. A proposal in 2022 was shot down after nationalists, citing fears of pro-Vietnam propaganda, kicked up a fuss. Teaching the Vietnamese language, the ministry reiterated, remains forbidden in state schools.
Vital Signs
Life expectancy in Cambodia reached a high of 76.6 years — a remarkable 17-year jump from 59.1 years in 2000. The average life expectancy for men registered 74.7 years, with women at 78.4 years.
Penalty Kick
The FFC is investigating accusations of match fixing against a national team goalkeeper who’s poor performance against Singapore sparked a firestorm of cheating allegations. Cambodia lost the game 2-1, with both goals coming as a result of shocking bad passes by Vireak Dara. Fans welcomed the inquiry.
BACKPAGES: From The Cambodia Daily Vault
Afesip Raid Witnesses Retract Original Accounts
December 20, 2004
A police official on Sunday said witnesses retracted their original accounts of the alleged Dec 8 abduction of 91 women and girls from a Phnom Penh women’s shelter during police questioning last week.
Gov’t Bans Book Criticizing Current Leaders
December 17, 2004
The Ministry of Information has banned the sale and circulation of a book of French origin that alleges involvement by Prime Minister Hun Sen and other high-ranking officials in the crimes of the Khmer Rouge regime.
Shops Ignore Ban on Iraqi Beheading Video
December 14, 2004
Phnom Penh shops are selling video compact discs of footage from Iraq—mostly of beheadings and torture of US and coalition soldiers and civilian workers—despite an order from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art to pull it from shelves.
WEEKEND READING
Escaping from scam center on Cambodia’s Bokor Mountain
Like so many other young people in Southeast Asia, Tu Anh Tu believed that a recruiter’s job offer was legitimate.
Photos: USS Savannah, U.S. Navy. Angkor Wat, Nguyen Ngoc Tien.
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