Cambodia denies ‘secret deal’ allowing Chinese forces to be stationed at naval base on Gulf of Thailand

The agreement would give China an enhanced ability to assert contested territorial claims and economic interests in the South China Sea

A Cambodian spokesperson said the report was ‘made up and baseless’ and in Beijing, spokesman Geng Shuang said parties should not ‘overinterpret’ China-Cambodian cooperation

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Earlier this month, the US Defence Department suggested China may be attempting to gain a military foothold in Cambodia. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:23am, 22 Jul 2019Updated: 8:26pm, 22 Jul 2019

China will be able to place armed forces at a Cambodian naval base under a secret agreement the two nations have reached, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, although Cambodian officials denied such a deal had been struck.

The agreement, reached this spring but not made public, gives China exclusive access to part of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand, the Journal reported, citing US and allied officials familiar with the matter.

Such an arrangement would give China an enhanced ability to assert contested territorial claims and economic interests in the South China Sea, challenging US allies in Southeast Asia. Chinese and Cambodian officials denied such an agreement existed, according to the Journal.

“This is the worst ever made up news against Cambodia,” Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told the pro-government news site Fresh News on Monday. “No such thing could happen because hosting foreign military bases is against the Cambodian constitution.”

Cambodian defence ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat said the report was “made up and baseless”.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said: “As I understand it, the Cambodia side denied this.”

But he declined to respond to repeated questions whether China also denied the report.

“China and Cambodia are traditionally friendly neighbours,” Geng told a news briefing.

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