Officials from the foreign ministries of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam visit the CLV-DTA area in 2023. Foreign ministry
Although several senior members of the Cambodian government, including Senate president Hun Sen, previously emphasised that Cambodia would not withdraw from the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), the decision was eventually made to do so.
This stance shifted when the government announced it had decided to withdraw from the agreement, effective immediately, on September 20. Hun Sen explained that the decision was made to "disarm the opposition”, following several organised protests against the CLV, both abroad and online.
In a September 5 announcement, Prime Minister Hun Manet had earlier expressed his sentiment that whether Cambodia stayed in or left the CLV-DTA was not important. What mattered, he said at the time, was the development of Cambodia’s northeastern region and the protection of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Several senior government officials and analysts have shared what they describe as the positive aspects of the withdrawal from the 25-year-old agreement, particularly in the context of responding to public opinion and promoting national unity.
A day after the government announced its decision, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha issued a September 21 statement supporting the move, describing it as a “visionary decision” made by Hun Sen, Hun Manet and other leaders.
Sokha’s statement, read out by spokesperson Ren Ratanak, noted that the decision showed responsibility and deep consideration for the nation's fate, as well as a commitment to the nation's supreme interests.
He added that the withdrawal was also a response to “the concerns and opinions of the people, and a way to eliminate the influence of certain extremist factions that continuously seek to exploit the political situation for illicit gains”.
Sokha called on Cambodians to continue fostering a spirit of unity to achieve further progress for the nation and its people.
Pa Chanroeun, president of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, said the government highlighted two main reasons for withdrawing from the CLV-DTA: the achievement of the cooperation's objectives and the need to prevent the opposition from using the issue to attack the government further.
He noted that the concerns of the public regarding the CLV-DTA, the donations made by citizens, and calls for the government to improve border infrastructure were likely the factors that led the government to reconsider its stance on the matter.
Yong Kim Eng, president of the People Centre for Development and Peach (PDP), viewed Cambodia’s decision to withdraw as a positive step for national reconciliation, believing it would reduce conflict around the cooperation agreement, as the government had listened to public concerns.
“The government may have considered how to avoid national division. This is important because the withdrawal could bring peace and open up more opportunities for future national development,” he said.
He added that the CLV-DTA issue appeared to have provided a valuable lesson for the government. If there are national development projects or other significant issues in the future, he would like to see the government consult the public through methods like referendums, which are common in democratic countries.
“I believe the government’s withdrawal from the CLV-DTA is a step toward national reconciliation, avoiding division or national fragmentation,” he explained.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said Cambodia’s withdrawal from the cooperation would not result in any significant losses or gains for the country, as he believed Cambodia’s development trajectory would continue as usual, with or without the CLV-DTA.
However, he saw political benefits for the government and the ruling party in removing an issue that the opposition could use against them.
“The government’s announcement to withdraw is mainly aimed at disarming the opposition. Development and cooperation with neighbouring countries, as well as international development partners, will proceed as normal in Cambodia’s development process,” he said.
