By:
• Manghout Ki

• October 24, 2024 , 6:00 PM

Australia may not be Cambodia’s largest trading partner or its most significant aid donor, but it has established a notable soft power influence within Cambodian politics over the years. Education, in particular, is one of Australia's most effective instruments of influence, contributing significantly to Cambodia’s human capital development and playing a critical role in bilateral relations.

Education has become one of Australia's top export sectors in its engagement with Cambodia, with thousands of Cambodian students benefiting from Australian educational opportunities. These students include those who self-fund their studies and those awarded prestigious scholarships. According to Australia Awards Cambodia, in 1994, Australia began offering scholarships to Cambodian public servants, laying the groundwork for a long-term educational partnership even before the rise of private higher education institutions in Cambodia. Since then, over 1,000 Cambodians have benefited from Australia Awards Scholarships. When accounting for privately funded students, more than 25,000 Cambodians have studied in Australia, creating a substantial alumni cohort.

Many of these graduates have returned to Cambodia, contributing significantly to the nation’s development across multiple sectors. Notably, some have ascended to prominent positions in government, underscoring the transformative impact of Australia’s educational diplomacy. For example, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service  Hun Many is an alumnus of the University of Melbourne. This integration of Australian-educated Cambodians into key governmental roles demonstrates the long-term influence of Australia’s educational outreach.

Australia's engagement with the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has been equally significant in the defence realm. Since the 1990s, Australia has been deeply involved in the modernization and reform of the RCAF. Australia's contribution to the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), through Lieutenant General John Murray Sanderson, marked a crucial point of early defence collaboration. Since then, Australia has played a leading role in the professionalization of Cambodia's military, providing critical human resource training and support. For example, Australia was a key sponsor of Cambodia’s Defence White Paper, the Cambodian Defence Policy, which was articulated in the Cambodian Defence White Paper of 2022.

Through these strategic engagements, Australia has succeeded in fostering a meaningful and productive relationship with Cambodia, particularly in the realms of politics, diplomacy, and defence. Unlike some other Western nations, Australia has cultivated a nuanced understanding of Cambodia’s political culture, facilitating a deeper mutual understanding. This approach has enabled sustained cooperation between the two countries, despite occasional differences in values or policy positions.

Looking ahead, Australia’s position as a close ally of the United States does not preclude the need for continued deep engagement with Cambodia. On the contrary, this partnership has already yielded significant strategic benefits for both parties.

By continuing to invest in educational, diplomatic, and defence ties, Australia can help Cambodia progress towards greater modernization and governance reform. In doing so, Australia strengthens its strategic position in the region and supports Cambodia's continued development along a democratic and sustainable path.

Ki Manghout is a research fellow at the Asian Vision Institute's Centre for Advanced Research and Legal Studies.