Cambodia is currently facing escalating maritime border tensions, particularly with Thailand and Vietnam, stemming from colonial-era territorial disputes. In the Khong Yai area, a narrow coastal strip of Thai land blocks Cambodian access to the sea. This conflict intensified during a recent border skirmish where Thai marines used naval support to thwart Cambodia’s efforts to gain maritime access across the strip.
More significantly, Cambodia is engaged in the construction of the Funan Techno Canal, which aims to connect the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand near Port Sihanouk. This ambitious project, financed with Chinese investment limited to 49%, seeks to create a direct route for sea-going vessels, eliminating the need for ships to pass through Vietnam, which currently benefits economically from this traffic. Cambodia’s reliance on Vietnam for shipping has allowed Vietnamese ports, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, to thrive on this trade route. The Funan Techno Canal threatens to divert significant commercial traffic away from Vietnam, raising alarms in Hanoi.
Additionally, Vietnamese authorities are concerned about the potential environmental impact of the canal, specifically the diversion of water from the Mekong, which could lower water levels in the Mekong Delta, thereby affecting local shipping routes. In response to these developments and after unsuccessful negotiations, Vietnam is reportedly expediting the construction of a road causeway. This causeway aims to block direct access to the canal while still allowing for fishing boats to pass, albeit restricted to Cambodian waters.
The Vietnamese government is projecting an ambitious completion date for the causeway of 2027, even though satellite imagery indicates limited progress has been made thus far. It appears Vietnam may be waiting for the canal’s development to progress before accelerating its construction efforts.
Despite ongoing tensions, the two nations maintain a façade of cordial relations through ASEAN initiatives, with joint naval exercises taking place to symbolize military cooperation. However, recent military activities, including a show of force by Vietnamese naval vessels, suggest a readiness to assert control over the region, emphasizing that Vietnam is not inclined toward compromise with Cambodia.
These maritime disputes reflect broader anxieties about territorial integrity and economic interests, highlighting the delicate balance of power in Southeast Asia as Cambodia seeks to assert its access to maritime routes while Vietnam aims to protect its own strategic and commercial interests.
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