US imposes arms embargo on Cambodia over human rights abuses and rising Chinese influence

United States Department of Commerce announced on Wednesday that nation has imposed a tre embargo on "sensitive items" against Cambodia in response to regime's human rights breaches, corruption, and growing Chinese influence in country. As per a press release from US Department of Commerce,  Department has imposed ditional limits on exports and reexports to Cambodia, end-use and end-user restrictions, as well as in-country movements of sensitive products which are subjected to Export ministration Regulations. 

press release noted, “Today, Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced new restrictions to dress human rights abuses and corruption by Cambodian government actors, including military, as well as growing influence of People's Republic of China's military in Cambodia." In meantime, US State Department put an arms embargo on Cambodia. 

Furr, US believes that se actions against Cambodia would limit access to dual-use products, and certain less-sensitive military items, under jurisdiction of Commerce Department. As per press release, “defense articles and defense services under State (Department)'s jurisdiction, to Cambodian military, military-intelligence services, and related entities and individuals." 

US firmly committed to independence and sovereignty of Cambodia's citizens

In dition to this, United States Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo stated that United States is firmly committed to independence and sovereignty of Cambodia's citizens. She went on to say that US urges Cambodian ministration to make significant progress in combating corruption and human rights violations, as well as to act to limit Chinese military's influence in Cambodia, which poses a danger to regional and world security. 

Furrmore, press release res that in  final regulation, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ded Cambodia to Country Group D:5 (U.S. Arms Embargoed countries) in accordance with State's implementation of arms embargo on Cambodia under State's authority.  

BIS also implemented a stricter evaluation procedure for license applications including national security-sensitive material, independent of end-user. It also makes Cambodian end-users ineligible for, or subject to furr restrictions on, certain licensing exceptions for exports, reexports, as well as in transfers. Applications to export or reexport commodities to Cambodia for both military and military intelligence's end-users or end-uses will be examined with a presumption of refusal. 

(Image: AP)