Premier decries ‘disrespect’ over ASEAN South China Sea statement
Prime Minister Hun Sen on 20 June slammed reports that Cambodia had succumbed to pressure from China and helped kill a strongly worded ASEAN statement on the South China Sea dispute, even as he parroted Beijing’s pre-emptive dismissal of an upcoming Hague ruling on the issue. ASEAN diplomatic sources quoted in international media said Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia had withdrawn their support for the statement under pressure from China. “It is not fair for Cambodia. They don’t dare blame Brunei, but our country is small; they are haughty and insulting with Cambodia and I will not allow anyone to insult the Khmer nation. I am not supporting any one country, but I need justice,” said the premier.
