Australia Unemployment Hits Five-Year High Despite Strong Jobs Growth 
OpenAI Agent Breaches Australia Medicare Data Portal 
Yemen Violence Displaces 130,000 as Civilian Toll Rises 
Taiwan Thanks US for Support Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit 
Trump, Xi Focus on Trade and AI at White House Summit 
US Officials Split Over Response to Israeli West Bank Settlements 
Russian Envoy Dmitriev Heads to US for Ukraine Talks 
Gold Prices Fall as Treasury Yields Rise on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
Ghana Says Western Support Growing for Slave Trade Reparations 
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Restore Third-Country Deportations 
Netanyahu Defends Israel at UN as Delegates Stage Walkout 
Oil Prices Jump 3% as Houthi Attack Revives Supply Fears 
Gold Drops Over 1% as Dollar, Treasury Yields Surge on Fed Rate Hike Bets 
US 10-Year Treasury Yield at 6% Emerges as New Market Risk Threshold 
Wall Street Ends Flat as Oil, Treasury Yields and Fed Jitters Rattle Markets 
France Defends Netanyahu Airspace Clearance Despite ICC Warrant 
Oil Prices Ease as Iran Tensions Clash With Diplomacy Hopes 
Add as a preferred source on Google
Cambodia is banking on increased financial support from China as President Xi Jinping visits Phnom Penh, concluding his Southeast Asia tour. The trip, seen as a strategic charm offensive, follows Xi's visits to Malaysia and Vietnam and comes amid regional economic strains from U.S. tariffs.
Cambodia, a key garment and footwear exporter to the U.S., has faced a steep 49% “reciprocal” tariff imposed by President Donald Trump—one of the highest globally—though most duties are currently paused until July.
As China’s largest bilateral creditor, Beijing has invested billions in Cambodian infrastructure, including roads and airports. Now, Phnom Penh is eyeing support for the $1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal, a 180-km waterway that would connect the Mekong River near Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand. The canal is expected to boost Cambodian shipping while reducing reliance on Vietnamese ports, though it has drawn concern for its environmental impact on the Mekong Delta.
Cambodia has alternated its claims on Beijing’s involvement in the canal’s funding, from fully covering the costs to financing 49%. While China has yet to confirm any financial commitment, Cambodian officials remain optimistic. “We expect more cooperation including on infrastructure development,” said Meas Soksensan, spokesperson for the finance ministry.
Notably, China signed no new loans to Cambodia last year—a sharp shift from previous years—as Beijing tightened overseas investments amid economic challenges and scrutiny of underperforming projects.
The two countries maintain a strong diplomatic relationship, calling each other "ironclad friends," despite recent controversies over scam centers in Cambodia operated by Chinese gangs. In a move aligned with Xi’s arrival, Cambodia deported several Chinese nationals, including individuals from Taiwan, sparking criticism from Taipei.
Earlier this month, China and Cambodia conducted joint military drills at a coastal base, raising U.S. concerns over potential military expansion.
