[ad_1]
The United States chastised the Union Development Group for its project to build an airport in Cambodia, arguing that it could potentially be converted for military purposes.
On September 15, the US Department of Finance announced that it would blacklist the Chinese state real estate development group Union Development Group due to its activities related to the Dara Sakor project in Koh Kong province, Cambodia. . The ministry accused the Chinese corporation of acquiring land to develop the project, destroying the environment and affecting the lives of local communities.
Runway at Dara Sakor Airport, Cambodia. Image: New York Times.
Union Development Group is building a Dara Sakor port, airport and complex complex in a national park in Koh Kong, which has an airstrip capable of receiving the world’s largest aircraft. The company describes it as the largest regional development project under the Belt and Road initiative initiated by Beijing. The total value of the Dara Sakor project is about $ 3.8 billion.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there were “credible reports” that Dara Sakor “could be used to store (Chinese) military assets.”
“If so, this would go against the Cambodian constitution and could threaten the stability of the Indo-Pacific, affecting Cambodia’s sovereignty and the security of US allies,” he said. .
“China’s permanent military presence in Cambodia has the potential to threaten regional stability, undermine prospects for peaceful dispute settlement, maritime security and freedom of navigation, and aviation,” the US Treasury Department advisory. has a paragraph.
Neither the Union Development Group nor the Cambodian government were required to comment. However, in the past, they repeatedly rejected Western media reports that the Dara Sakor project was for military purposes.
The sanctions are introduced by the US based on the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US government to target human rights abusers around the world by freezing their properties or banning Americans. do business with them.
Vu hoang (According to the Reuters)
