Ahead of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State's visit to Cambodia, foreign policy experts debated what the visit could mean. Many pointed to the relationship between Cambodia and China, including John Ciorciari, associate professor of public policy and director of the International Policy Center and the Weiser Diplomacy Center.
He said one reason could be "an effort by the Biden administration to stop or even reverse Cambodia’s slide into a closer embrace of China," Ciorciari said. “U.S. policy towards Cambodia reflects two competing impulses—pressing for democracy or accommodating Hun Sen to curb Chinese influence.”
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