Latest news with #RonaldP.Clark
Voice of America
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Top US general in Asia begins 2-day visit to Cambodia
The top U.S. Army officer for the Asia-Pacific region began a two-day visit to Cambodia Monday in a trip designed to expand and improve frayed ties between the two nations. General Ronald P. Clark, the commanding general of the United States Army Pacific met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and senior Cambodian military officials in Phnom Penh. Ties between the U.S. and Cambodia have been strained with Washington's criticism of Cambodia's political repression and human rights violations. However, the U.S. and other countries are also greatly concerned with Cambodia's close ties with China. Of special interest is China's access to the Ream Naval Base near the disputed South China Sea, a waterway China claims almost in full. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague rejected China's sweeping claims. The naval base is strategically located in the Gulf of Thailand, which borders the western section of the South China Sea. The base's renovation was funded by China. China has contributed massive amounts of money to Cambodia's updating of its infrastructure with the help beginning when the prime minister's father, Hun Sen, was leading the country. That funding continues and later Monday, Manet met with Yin LI, a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, according to a post on the prime minister's Telegram account. The post said the Li praised the progress on 'all cooperation in all fields' between Cambodia and China. During the meeting, Clark also expressed his admiration for Cambodia for sending U.N. peacekeepers to several international locations, according to the prime minister's office. The prime minister also thanked the U.S. for its assistance in helping to clear explosives from Cambodia after years of war that left Cambodia in the late 1990s with 4 million to 6 million land mines and other unexploded ordnance, including unexploded U.S. bombs. Clark also met Monday with General Mao Sophan, Cambodia's military chef. The two military generals had 'constructive discussions,' the army said in a statement. Topics of their talks included defense, trade, tourism, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and demining, the Cambodian army said. Their discussion also included the possible revival of the Angkor Sentinel exercise, the joint military exercises previously held by the U.S. and Cambodia that were abandoned nearly 10 years ago, the army said. Some information provided by The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Top US general in Asia-Pacific visits Cambodia to boost relations
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The top U.S. Army officer for the Asia-Pacific region was in Cambodia on Monday in the latest visit by U.S. officials aimed at improving estranged ties between the two nations and their militaries. The two-day visit by a delegation led by Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, comes against a background of rocky relations with Cambodia, whose government Washington has long criticized for political repression and human rights violations. There is also particular concern about its close ties with China. The United States and others fear that China's navy may have been given exclusive access to a base at Ream on the Gulf of Thailand, which would allow it to more easily project its power from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. China is Cambodia's most important ally and benefactor, with a strong influence on its economy. A Cambodian army press release said the country's military chief Gen. Mao Sophan in his meeting with Clark discussed cooperation in defense, trade, tourism, culture, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and demining as well as the recovery of missing American military personnel during the Vietnam War. The two also discussed the possible resumption of the joint Angkor Sentinel military exercises, last held in 2016. A statement issued by Prime Minister Hun Manet said the U.S. general expressed his interest and appreciation for Cambodia sending U.N. peacekeepers to several countries around the world. Hun Manet thanked the U.S. government for supporting Cambodia in clearing unexploded ordnance. Decades of war that ended in the late 1990s left 4 million to 6 million land mines and other unexploded munitions, including U.S. bombs.
Washington Post
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Top US general in Asia-Pacific visits Cambodia to boost relations
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The top U.S. Army officer for the Asia-Pacific region was in Cambodia on Monday in the latest visit by U.S. officials aimed at improving estranged ties between the two nations and their militaries. The two-day visit by a delegation led by Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, comes against a background of rocky relations with Cambodia, whose government Washington has long criticized for political repression and human rights violations .
Associated Press
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Top US general in Asia-Pacific visits Cambodia to boost relations
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — The top U.S. Army officer for the Asia-Pacific region was in Cambodia on Monday in the latest visit by U.S. officials aimed at improving estranged ties between the two nations and their militaries. The two-day visit by a delegation led by Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, comes against a background of rocky relations with Cambodia, whose government Washington has long criticized for political repression and human rights violations. There is also particular concern about its close ties with China. The United States and others fear that China's navy may have been given exclusive access to a base at Ream on the Gulf of Thailand, which would allow it to more easily project its power from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. China is Cambodia's most important ally and benefactor, with a strong influence on its economy. A Cambodian army press release said the country's military chief Gen. Mao Sophan in his meeting with Clark discussed cooperation in defense, trade, tourism, culture, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and demining as well as the recovery of missing American military personnel during the Vietnam War. The two also discussed the possible resumption of the joint Angkor Sentinel military exercises, last held in 2016. A statement issued by Prime Minister Hun Manet said the U.S. general expressed his interest and appreciation for Cambodia sending U.N. peacekeepers to several countries around the world. Hun Manet thanked the U.S. government for supporting Cambodia in clearing unexploded ordnance. Decades of war that ended in the late 1990s left 4 million to 6 million land mines and other unexploded munitions, including U.S. bombs.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Top US general in Asia-Pacific visits Cambodia to boost relations
The top U.S. Army officer for the Asia-Pacific region was in Cambodia on Monday in the latest visit by U.S. officials aimed at improving estranged ties between the two nations and their militaries. The two-day visit by a delegation led by Gen. Ronald P. Clark, commanding general of the United States Army Pacific, comes against a background of rocky relations with Cambodia, whose government Washington has long criticized for political repression and human rights violations. There is also particular concern about its close ties with China. The United States and others fear that China's navy may have been given exclusive access to a base at Ream on the Gulf of Thailand, which would allow it to more easily project its power from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. China is Cambodia's most important ally and benefactor, with a strong influence on its economy. A Cambodian army press release said the country's military chief Gen. Mao Sophan in his meeting with Clark discussed cooperation in defense, trade, tourism, culture, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and demining as well as the recovery of missing American military personnel during the Vietnam War. The two also discussed the possible resumption of the joint Angkor Sentinel military exercises, last held in 2016. A statement issued by Prime Minister Hun Manet said the U.S. general expressed his interest and appreciation for Cambodia sending U.N. peacekeepers to several countries around the world. Hun Manet thanked the U.S. government for supporting Cambodia in clearing unexploded ordnance. Decades of war that ended in the late 1990s left 4 million to 6 million land mines and other unexploded munitions, including U.S. bombs.
