被没收150亿美元，在美国翻大跟头后，洪森父子又开始转向中国

Core Viewpoint - Cambodia faces significant challenges in managing its foreign exchange reserves due to external pressures, particularly from the United States, which has led to a reevaluation of its asset management strategies, including a shift towards gold reserves and alternative storage solutions [2][20]. Group 1: Economic Context - Cambodia's economy has transitioned from post-war recovery to an investment-driven model, focusing on infrastructure development with foreign capital [2]. - The total foreign exchange reserves of Cambodia are approximately $26 billion, with gold holdings amounting to 54 tons, indicating a reliance on traditional Western storage systems that are now being reconsidered [2]. Group 2: U.S. Influence and Sanctions - The U.S. has imposed sanctions on three state-owned banks in Cambodia, freezing their assets in the U.S. due to alleged corruption, which resulted in a sharp decline in Cambodia's foreign exchange reserves and significant currency fluctuations [4]. - The U.S. also temporarily suspended SWIFT services for certain Cambodian financial institutions, forcing the country to utilize its gold reserves for import payments, thereby impacting its international trade credibility [4]. Group 3: Leadership Changes and Policy Shifts - Hun Manet, the son of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, took office in 2023 and has sought to balance U.S. and Chinese influences, aiming to attract more Western investment for digital economy and education reforms [6]. - Despite these efforts, high tariffs imposed by the U.S. on Cambodian exports, particularly a 36% tariff on textiles and agriculture, have adversely affected key industries [6]. Group 4: Case Study of Chen Zhi - The case of Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group, exemplifies the challenges faced by the Hun family under U.S. policies, as his group was implicated in forced labor and cryptocurrency fraud, leading to significant legal repercussions [8][15]. - The U.S. seized 127,000 bitcoins from Chen Zhi, valued at approximately $15 billion, marking the largest confiscation of cryptocurrency assets in history and indirectly impacting the Hun family's financial network [13][15]. Group 5: Strategic Reassessment - In light of the sanctions and the Chen Zhi case, Cambodia is reassessing its reserve strategies, with plans to store part of its gold reserves in Shenzhen, China, to enhance security and avoid the risks associated with Western financial systems [20][22]. - The shift towards storing gold in China reflects a broader trend among small nations to seek more stable partnerships and reduce reliance on Western financial institutions, which have proven to be vulnerable to external interventions [20][22].