Shillong: China treats its ironclad friendship with Cambodia as a tool rather than a shield. A recent report highlights that Beijing prioritizes its own strategic goals above support for Phnom Penh during territorial disputes. Artillery, rockets, and airstrikes rattled the Cambodia-Thailand border on July 24, last year. Fighting flared up again on December 27.
Beijing refused to back Cambodia’s claims or condemn Thailand. Instead, the Chinese Foreign Ministry maintained a neutral stance, calling both nations friendly partners. In a July 27, 2025, statement, the ministry said, "Cambodia and Thailand are and will always be each other’s neighbours." The statement urged both sides to seek a ceasefire, noting that both are key members of ASEAN.
Channtha So, a PhD candidate at The University of Cambodia, authored the report in Eurasia Review. So argues that Thailand’s economic clout and established defense ties make it a more valuable partner for China. While Beijing keeps political and military links with both, it refuses to let rhetoric dictate its actions.
Cambodia remains useful for political alignment and strategic access. However, it cannot rely on China for protection against land loss. The report advises Phnom Penh to view its friendship with Beijing as a diplomatic instrument. Cambodia must build alternative options to ensure its own strategic autonomy, as Beijing will always protect its bottom line first.
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