US Brigadier General Visits for Counterterrorism, Security Talks

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US Brigadier General Richard Simcock is to arrive in Phnom Penh today for a three-day visit with officials from the Ministry of National Defense, according to a US Embassy statement. The visit is one of a growing number by Chinese and US military officials as both countries in Cambodia. Brig Gen simcock, principle director for South and Southeast Asia in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, will meet with the ministry to discuss peacekeeping, maritime security and counterterrorism, according to the embassy. His visit is one in a series of recent trips to Cambodia by US military personnel and high-ranking officials. Last week, US marines held a week long course in parachuting skills for marines and members of RCAF aimed at improving readiness or disaster relief efforts. 

Earlier this month, the commander of the US Navy's Seventh Fleet, its largest, met with officials from the Royal Cambodian Navy to discuss "regional issues"; and in February, the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship, docked at Sihanoukville Port for a regional security cooperation program involving the Cambodian military. Likewise, senior Chinese military officials have in recent years increasingly for used their attention on Cambodia. In 2011, China provided a great deal of support to the Cambodian military, most notably last week when the two countries signed a $195.5 million loan for Cambodia to purchase Chinese-made military helicopters. in May, the Chinese government partially fulfilled a 2009 promise to provide $14.7 million in military aid to Cambodia, a commitment made after the US had canceled delivery of 200 refurbished military vehicles following Cambodia's deportation to China of 20 ethnic Uighur asylum-seekers. In June, Cambodia sent a delegation to China to meet with Chinese defense officials, a visit Defense Minister Tea Banh at the time said was aimed at strengthening relations "with our friend China." 

The Cambodia Daily