China's Role in Thailand/Cambodia Relation

China's Role in Thailand/Cambodia Relation Analyze the People's Republic of China's role in the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. The border between Cambodia and Thailand has long been a source of conflict between the two countries; much of the recent conflict has to do with Preah Vihear, a temple constructed by the Khmer in the 11th century. Though Cambodia has had legal control of Preah Vihear -- granted by the World Court -- since 1962, the border still remains a site of turmoil for the countries.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is playing an increasingly important role in Asia. Today the PRC has taken a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council as well as other multilateral organizations and asserts its devotion to helping reduce tensions in Asia -- which includes the Cambodia-Thailand border dispute. Since the last dispute in February of 2011, China has appealed (along with several nations) for Cambodia and Thailand to solve their border dispute peacefully.

The purpose of this study is to gather information from the site of the dispute and reveal what the PRC's role is in the conflict -- what measures they can take to promote peace and how strengthening bonds with Thailand may aid in finding resolution since it already has quite strong ties with Cambodia. Background: Cambodia historical concern about potential Thai designs on its western provinces is the background to the only case in which one ASEAN state has suspended diplomatic relations with another (Weatherbee 2008).

Cambodia dominated major parts of Thailand from the ninth to the twelfth centuries and the remnants of Khmer rule still can be seen on the Cambodia-Thailand border area -- especially in Esarn (Northeast Thailand). Apart from Angkor Wat and the temples around it, the most amazing Khmer sanctuaries are found in the border region between Cambodia and Thailand (St. John 1993: 4-14). Preah Vihear is considered one of the greatest achievements of Khmer architecture and one of the most awe-inspiring temples in Southeast Asia (1993: 4-14).

Preah Vihear is different from most Khmer sanctuaries because it faces north rather than east. Because it faces north, it is facing the highlands that form a part of modern Thailand (St. John 1994: 64) and access to the temple is from the Thai side. In 1953, Thailand's government, in hopes of strengthening its border, put a police post in the Dangrek Mountains -- north of Preah Vihear -- and sailed their flag over the sanctuary.

When prolonged negotiations between 1954 and 1958 failed to produce any kind of positive results, the Cambodian government instituted legal proceedings in October of 1959 against Thailand before the International Court of Justice. In October of 1961, the conflict led to a suspension of diplomatic relations and the closing of the Thai-Cambodian border (St. John 1994: 64). Preah Vihear remained under Thai occupation until the early 1960s. In 1962, however, the World Court heard both Cambodia and Thailand's arguments concerning the 11th century temple and upheld Cambodian control over the temple.

After the World Court awarded Cambodia possession of Preah Vihear, things calmed down for a while; however, in 2003, territorial dispute about the border region began again, and then reared its head in 2008 and next in 2011. The Cambodia-Thai conflict has had a negative impact on the relationship between the people in the area of the conflict. Furthermore, the two countries are members of ASEAN and this dispute has had a negative impact on the ASEAN's development.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) has played a major role in Cambodia's foreign relations since the country attained independence in 1953. Since 1953, the PRC has tried to limit United States, Thai -- and especially Vietnamese -- influence in Cambodia by acting as patron to a succession of Cambodian strongmen. Today, Cambodia and the PRC maintain strong relations -- especially when it comes to economy, politics, and military backing for Cambodia's leader Hun Sen.

China is Cambodia's biggest donor and has offered funds for road construction and an irrigation project in Cambodia. China, of course, has also offered military aid. China maintains that it would like to see peaceful relations between Cambodia and Thailand as members of ASEAN and its neighbor countries. On February 7th, 2011, after new attacks at the border region, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said: "Both Cambodia and Thailand are China's friendly neighbors.

China hopes that the two nations exercise calmness and restraint, resolve disputes through consultation, and prevent the situation from escalation" (Xinhuanet 2011). Method: 1. Collect primary and second sources from government and non-government organizations. 2. Interview people from the region including government officials (which I will be able to access given that I am a government official), businessmen, diplomats, and local individuals. 3. Analyze the different perspectives -- Thai and Cambodian -- regarding the conflict. 4.

Interview Chinese diplomats, government officials to get an understanding of what they believe the People's Republic of China's role is in the border.