Abstract
This paper will assess Cambodia’s current and future strategic and security situation, arguing that current and future Cambodian national security will be determined by the three key strategic security issues of domestic, geographic,human and economic security. These three key security factors have significantly underpinned Cambodia’s strategic challenges. The first strategic challenge is related to the current domestic political deadlock between the two major political parties, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), led by Prime Minister Hun and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), led by Sam Rainsy. The current political contestation has significant challenges for Cambodian national development as well as foreign policy. The second major strategic challenge for Cambodia relates to economic security, and the requirement to balance the strategic competition between China and the United States to gain influence within Cambodia. This external power competition has a significant impact on Cambodia’s political and economic circumstances as Cambodia remains heavily dependent on foreign aid for political and economic development as can be seen today. The key challenge is that while China and the United States are the largest providers, they are competing for their own interests and influence in Cambodia, and the wider Southeast Asian region. The third challenge facing Cambodia is centered around managing its relationship with China and ASEAN claimants in the context of territorial disputes over the South China Sea. This environment presents one of the most challenging difficulties for the kingdom’s contemporary foreign policy. These challenges have greatly impacted and shaped Cambodia’s reform agenda, defense posture, political system and international engagements. The paper will also consider how Cambodia’s effort and commitment towards reform and its integration with the international community will not be achieved without overcoming these three challenges.