The US announced new economic sanctions against Cambodia on Wednesday, accused some members of the government of human rights violations and corruption and denounced “the growing influence of the military of the People’s Republic of China“in the country.

Last month, they had already sanctioned two senior officials in the Cambodian Defense Ministry who were accused of corruption at a naval base where Washington denounced Chinese military ambitions.

What restrictions?

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement: “new restrictions (…) on exports and re-exports to Cambodia and the movement of sensitive goods subject to the rules of the export administration“, Ie articles from the armaments sector.

At the same time, the US State Department has imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia, the ministry said.

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Specifically, the Cambodian Army, military intelligence agencies and related entities or individuals now have restricted access to certain military items that are under the jurisdiction of the US Department of Commerce.

“The United States remains fully committed to the independence of Cambodia and the sovereignty of its people“, Assured the Minister of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

“We call on the Cambodian government to make significant strides in the fight against corruption and human rights abuses, and to work to reduce the influence of the Chinese military in Cambodia, which threatens regional and global security.“.