Hun Sen defends canal project on Mekong River, refutes allegations

People should not slander Cambodia in order to oppose China in accordance with their geopolitical strategy, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen said on Tuesday, refuting allegations that the Techo Funan Canal project will accommodate the Chinese navy near the Vietnamese border.

"The Techo Funan Canal purely serves socioeconomic benefit as it provides more waterways to the southwestern Cambodia additional to the existing transport routes along the Mekong River," Hun Sen said on social media platform X.

The vital infrastructure, which facilitates agricultural activities by providing water for crop cultivation, is good for water management during the rainy season, and increases freshwater fish production, among other benefits, he said.

The 180-kilometer Techo Funan Canal project, which links the capital Phnom Penh to coastal province Kep, will be the first capital-coastal waterway in Cambodia.

By connecting waterways between rivers and the sea, it is set to help boost Cambodia's infrastructure and connectivity. Construction is slated to commence by year end, the Khmer Times reported.

In a meeting with China's National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji on March 28, Hun Sen, who is also president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party, said he hopes China can support the canal project.

Good relations

Cambodia and Vietnam are neighbors with good friendship and cooperation in all fields, while China and Vietnam also have good relations and are comprehensive strategic partners, Hun Sen said in the post.

"What does Cambodia need the Chinese army to do? And for what?" Hun Sen asked, adding that the Cambodian Constitution has clearly stated that no agreement can be implemented if it is not in line with Cambodia's independence and sovereignty.

Noting the project follows the 1995 Mekong Agreement signed by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, Hun Sen said the canal will have no influence on the flow of the Mekong River, because it does not connect directly to the Mekong River but rather to the Bassac River that starts from Phnom Penh and flows southward to the Kandal Province that borders Vietnam.

"We also think of our national interests just as you do," Hun Sen said. "Fortunately, you were born in a rich country and we were born in a poor country. That's why you look down on us."

Prior to allegations regarding the Techo Funan Canal, there were reports about the presence of Chinese troops at the Ream Naval Base in the southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk, which is being upgraded with China's aid. Hun Sen said the reports are "slanderous".

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said at the upgrading project's groundbreaking ceremony in 2022 that the project is a result of mutual respect and equal consultation between the two sides, in line with domestic laws of both countries and relevant international laws and practices.

kelly@chinadailyapac.com