Cambodia's Neutrality in the South China Sea Conflict

Legal Studies 1
LEGAL STUDIES
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Legal Studies 2
Legal Studies
Cambodia is not a small nation, therefore, implies that it should not be a protagonist in an
international issue. I typically think that the country made the right decision in regards to the
conflict relating to the South China Sea. Generally, a particular chain is usually strong at its
weakest link, and this is the same case with Cambodia. China was the troublemaker, and this was
matters relating to the dispute of the South China Sea. Such a dispute was with certain other
nations who are also members of the Asean, and they included countries such as Malaysia and
Philippines. China uses the nine-dash line to seek for a section which is much of the South China
Sea, and this has been displayed by the fact that it has failed to take part in the UN arbitration
case which had been filed by the Philippines (Odgaard, 2017 p.100).
Further, I strongly support the decision which had been made by Cambodia, and this is
based on the fact that Cambodia is considered as one of the parties in the territorial conflicts. In
the past meeting, a strongly worded joint statement on the matter was withdrawn by the Asean
foreign ministers, and this also included the Chinese foreign ministers. (Raine, 2017 p.5). The
meeting was however held in Kunming, China. I tend to believe and accept the fact that
Cambodia is making the right decision for its citizens and this is unlike what others claim that
the decision sides with the policy of China in matters relating to disputed waters. Such a policy
has usually been used by China to offer loans and other aids in terms of billions of dollars.
Cambodia is just a small nation, and hence there is no reason for it to defend Asean members
because there will be no benefit that it will obtain by protecting and defending them. Also, it will
be going against the formidable China, and it should step back with the aim of helping its people.
Additionally, Cambodia has been blamed by numerous nations as being immoral and also for
betraying the Asean which I think and believe is an irresponsible claim which has to be avoided

Legal Studies 3
at all cost. Through the support of Beijing, Cambodia typically made a choice which can be
considered to be practical and this was because its economy largely relies on the country China.
The country, therefore, deserves to be praised since the decision it made was realistic for the
people of Cambodia.
The most important aspect which the globe should be worried about is the fact that there
is certain hidden imperialism in the South China Sea conflict and this is typically in the 21st
century. Over time some of the wealthiest and powerful nations have been controlling certain
small countries and hence taking advantage of them (Raine, 2017 p.5). It can be seen that such
nations use the money they have in purchasing support from certain small nations all over the
world. Thereafter, they use the weak nations as the center for international criticism which is
unacceptable, and this has to stop immediately. We cannot allow powerful nations to take
advantage of other small countries because they have amassed a lot of wealth in the past few
years. It is evident that what had transpired in the South China Sea is an exemplar of the quote
which states that the might makes right. On the basis of the dispute, it can be argued that the
most fundamental aspect which should be taken into account when a problem arises should be to
look into the particular problem instead of focusing on blame games on certain small nations.
The decision which was made in the recent meeting of the Asean foreign ministers,
Cambodia had typically acted independently and neutrally, and hence such a decision should not
be criticized. It is often believed that the weak nations have been used by various critics as
sandbags with the intention to punch them because a sandbag typically cannot respond to any
particular punch imposed on it. Also, Cambodia has typically maintained its stance on the issue
such that it will not side with any of the particular parties in the conflict (Odgaard, 2017 p.100).
Such a stand will aid in preventing an adverse situation in which the dispute of South China Sea