Cambodia–Japan relations

Cambodian–Japanese relations

Cambodia	Japan

Cambodia–Japan relationsare foreign relations betweenCambodiaandJapan.Japan has an embassy inPhnom Penhand Cambodia has an embassy inTokyo.

History

Early interactions

Japan's relationship with Cambodia began in 1603.Cambodian ships would trade at the port ofNagasaki.In one of Cambodia's earliest mission, military aid was requested.Tokugawa Ieyasusent swords and other weapons. However, Ieyasu did not want to be involved in Southeast Asian military actions.

In 1742, official contact with Japan and Cambodia ended. Cambodian officials stopped going to Nagasaki for trade.

Throughout 18th and 19th century, constant wars in Cambodia (from civil wars and rebellions towars between Vietnam and Siam Empire) further prevented Cambodia and Japan from resuming relations.

World War II

Main article:Japanese occupation of Cambodia

DuringWorld War II,theFranco-Thai Warin 1940 weakened the colonial regime inFrench Indochina.TheHitlerianpuppet regimeVichy Francesigned an agreement withImperial Japanto allow military transit through French Indochina.

Taking advantage of Thailand's friendship with Japan and the weakened situation in France,Thaigovernment under pro-Japanese leadership ofPlaek Phibunsongkhraminvaded Cambodia's western provinces.

In March 1941,Tokyohosted the signature of a treaty that formally compelled the French to relinquish the provinces ofBattambang,Siem Reap,Koh Kongas well as a narrow extension of land between the 15th parallel and theDangrek MountainsinStung Treng Province.As a result, Cambodia had lost almost half a million citizens and one-third of its former surface area to Thailand.

In August 1941,Imperial Japanese Armyentered theFrench protectorate of Cambodiaand established a garrison that numbered 8,000 troops. Despite their military presence, the Japanese authorities allowed the cooperating Vichy French colonial officials to remain at their administrative posts.

Kingdom of Kampuchea

Main article:Kingdom of Kampuchea (1945)

On 9 March 1945, during the closing stages of the war, Japanoverthrew the French rulein Indochina.

On 13 March 1945,Norodom SihanoukTheKing of Cambodiaproclaimed an independent Kingdom of Kampuchea following Japan formal request. Shortly thereafter, Japan nominally ratified the independence of Cambodia and established embassy.

On 18 March 1945, Sihanouk himself also served asPrime Minister.However,Son Ngoc Thanh,who previously fled to Japan following the 1942 anti-French demonstrations, had returned in April 1945 to serve as foreign minister. Son Ngoc Thanh became prime minister following thesurrender of Japan,serving until French colonialism returned in October 1945.

With thesurrender of Japanin August 1945,the Alliesdisarmed and repatriated soldiers of Imperial Japan. The French were able toreimpose the colonial administrationinPhnom Penhin October the same year.

On 12 October, French colonial authorities exiled Son Ngoc Thanh to France and put him underhouse arrestdue to his collaboration with Japan in World War II. However, his supporters went underground and joined forces withKhmer Issarak,where both they andJapanese holdoutgot involved inFirst Indochina War.

Cold War Era

In January 1953, Japan and Cambodia again established formal diplomatic relations, withNorodom SihanoukTheKing of Cambodiabeing awardedOrder of the Chrysanthemumin 1955 byHirohitoTheEmperor of Japan.

Relations continued even afterLon Noland his factionlaunched a coup in 1970that overthrown the kingdom and createdUSpuppet regimeKhmer Republic,although technically Japan still recognized the exiled Sihanouk as the king of Cambodia.

In 1975, embassies of both sides were closed due to the rise ofcommunistregimeKhmer Rouge.As Pol Pot regime collapsed in the wake ofThird Indochina War,theFUNSKestablishedPeople's Republic of Kampuchea,however they and Japan did not contact each other.

After Cold War era, the Embassy of Japan in Cambodia resumed operations in 1992, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Japan resumed operations in December 1994.

In 2001, Cambodia joined as the 9th member of theASEAN-Japan Centre.

Trade

Trade is sizable between the two countries:

• Japan to Cambodia: 14.0 billion yen (2006)
• Cambodia to Japan: 9.5 billion yen (2006)

Japaneseinvestmentin Cambodia includesPhnom Penh Commercial Bank,a joint venture of Hyundai Switzerland and JapaneseSBI Group,opened in 2008.

Japanese aid

Japan remains Cambodia's top donor country providing some US$1.2 billion in total official development assistance since 1992. In 2006, Japanese and Cambodian governments signed an agreement outlining a new Japanese aid program worth US$59 million.

The Japanese government has provided significant assistance fordeminingand education.

See also

• Angkor Wat Marathon,a marathon in Cambodia introduced by Japanese OlympianYuko Arimoriwhich is supported by Embassy of Japan in Cambodia
• Foreign relations of Cambodia
• Foreign relations of Japan

External links

• Japanese embassy in Cambodia
• Cambodian embassy in Japan