The decision to accept the yacht MS Westerdam was "rejectioned" by many places, showing Cambodia's support for China amid the pneumonia epidemic.

Ms Westerdam carried more than 2,000 passengers and crew were trapped after five consecutive places including Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Guam and Thai La Island refused to allow boats to dock due to concerns about corona pneumonia. Covid-19). Holland America's yacht, which departs from Hong Kong on February 1, was originally intended to take a 14-day round-trip cruise around East Asia.

Joy came to Ms Westerdam and his passengers on February 12, when the Cambodian government agreed to receive the boat. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen personally arrived at Sihanoukvillera port to greet, shake hands and give flowers to the first 100 passengers leaving MS Westerdam ashore. He said all passengers were allowed to continue departing from Cambodia.

"Cambodia cares more about human rights. We respect the rights of more than 2,000 people on board. We don't have as much money as a rich country, but we have sympathy for trapped passengers." on the boat, "Hun Sen told guests on MS Westerdam.

However, three days later, Malaysia performed two tests with an 83-year-old American woman, a passenger on the yacht MS Westerdam, all tested positive for the corona virus. Cambodia has previously tested 20 people with signs of disease on yachts and confirmed that no one was infected with nCoV.

Neang Sokhun's account posted on Facebook that a Cambodian People's Party official (CPP) said Prime Minister Hun Sen was infected with the corona virus after receiving an American grandmother from the MS Westerdam yacht. However, the Cambodian Ministry of Health said this was fabricated information, requiring police and related agencies to take legal action on this incident.

When the Covid-10 outbreak broke out, many countries banned travel to China, warning citizens to leave the country if possible. Cambodia, an ally and often receiving large grants from China, takes an opposite approach. Receiving the "spurned" ship is considered Cambodia's latest support for China. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Hun Sen went to Beijing, showing his support and confidence in China's ability to control the disease.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua quoted Prime Minister Hun Sen as saying to President Xi Jinping that he "decided to make a special visit to China to show Cambodia's support for the country in against the outbreak of disease. "

Chinese media repeatedly emphasized the "special" nature of the visit, noting that Mr. Hun Sen decided to make the trip even when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the corona virus case to be the case. global emergency.

Beijing has criticized the "outrageous" quarantine measures of many countries, including travel restrictions and trade restrictions that could affect the entire world's second-largest economy.

"We hope all countries can assess the disease situation objectively, fairly, calmly and reasonably, respect WHO recommendations, understand and support control efforts. disease epidemic of China, "the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

At a press conference in Phnom Penh on January 30, Hun Sen showed dissatisfaction with reporters wearing masks attending the event. "The prime minister doesn't even wear a mask, so why do you have to?" He said. He added that "the more frightening disease is the irresponsible sharing of rumors online that confuse people who don't understand the virus." China has similar reassurance to the public.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also stated he wanted to visit the Wuhan epidemic, but the Chinese government politely declined the request. "The reality is that Wuhan is struggling to cope with the outbreak and is under strict control. A visit to Wuhan at this time cannot be streamlined," a spokeswoman said. .

The Cambodian Prime Minister's approach has been praised by the Chinese government. "The true friend is always there when necessary, as the Cambodian people always stand by the Chinese people in this special situation," President Xi Jinping told Hun Sen. Xi has also pledged to take good care of Cambodian citizens in China as well as look after his own citizens.

Leaders of Cambodia and China also agreed to continue high-level exchanges in 2020 and raise bilateral relations to a new level. Beijing expressed hope that Hun Sen's way of getting rid of the fear of corona virus would be a "good example" for the world.

Unlike Western countries rushing to bring citizens back, Hun Sen declared Cambodia would not do the same, emphasizing that Cambodians "must agree to suffer with China". The Cambodian government also decided not to cancel flights to and from China, arguing that this move could lead to "death" of the country's economy.

However, Hun Sen also made it clear that the act of bringing citizens back home could offend China. "This could end the Cambodian learning opportunity here. China may stop granting scholarships," he said.

When Indonesia issued a restraining order to Chinese tourists, Beijing warned it was "an outrageous reaction and could directly impact China-Indonesia relations".

After a person aboard the MS Westerdam was found to be infected with the corona virus, health officials feared Campuhia "could open the door for the disease", which claimed the lives of nearly 1,900 and caused more than 70,000 people to be infected. according to NYTimes. The world may have to pay a price when passengers return home from the train.