PHNOM PENH – Cambodia has reiterated its One-China stance towards Taiwan ahead of an official visit to China. However, an analyst has warned of the superpower trap, saying Cambodia should firmly maintain its non-aligned foreign policy without discrimination.

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea will visit China from May 23 to 25 at the invitation of the Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

The Chinese Embassy in Phnom Penh and the Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement that China did not recognize Taiwan as a country and that Cambodia opposes any form of Taiwan independence.

Cambodia repeated that Cambodia consistently upholds the One-China policy, acknowledging Taiwan as an inalienable part of China's territory and the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government.

“Cambodia opposes any attempt to use the Taiwan issue to interfere in China's internal affairs, opposes any form of Taiwan independence, firmly supports all efforts by the Government of the People's Republic of China to achieve national reunification, and will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan,” the ministry said.

Ro Vannak, co-founder of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, said  Cambodia is embracing the One-China policy and alliance with China for investment and infrastructure loans, primarily for development.

“For the head in Cambodia, Taiwan is not a country. So, I think that having diplomatic relations with Taiwan has not been a thought of them,” he said. 

Vannak said by 2049, Xi Jinping’s administration aims for “reunification” with Taiwan, which is complex to achieve. 

“The dream of uniting Taiwan through economic and diplomatic images seems to have failed. This unification is only possible through the use of military force,” he said.​ “War could break out between China and Taiwan.”

Given that, Vannak warned that Cambodia should not lose itself which could lead to the loss of independence, neutrality and non-aligned foreign policy, protected by the country’s Constitution, adding that the Paris Peace Agreement also ensures the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolable independence in the international arena.

“It is up to Cambodia itself to maintain its foreign policy intelligently per its own Constitution and without affecting any of the superpowers of China or the United States,” he said. 

“Cambodia should implement the multi-party liberal democracy enshrined in the Constitution and try to diversify economic diplomacy with the superpowers without discrimination.

On Monday, Taiwan elected its new president, William Lai, who urged China to cease its threats and acknowledge its democracy.

China said Taiwan has always been an inalienable part of China, saying that denying Resolution 2758 adopted by UNGA in 1971 is to turn back the wheel of history.

“Those who challenge the One-China principle will be swept away by the trend of the times, and those who try to turn back the wheel of history will be run over by it,” the Embassy in Phnom Penh said.