Cambodia denies it plans to allow China to use military base in Gulf of Thailand
- Demolition of US-funded facility on Ream Naval Base prompted questions about possible deal with Beijing
- Cambodian government says structure was torn down as part of planned relocation to larger site
The statement by the National Committee for Maritime Security was in response to recent media reports highlighting new concerns over China’s suspected plans for Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand. The stories were based on satellite photos showing the demolished facility and statements from Cambodian officials.
The committee said its Tactical Command Headquarters, “an operational unit responsible for implementing multi-agency law enforcement” in cooperation with the United States and Australia, had been a temporary structure, and plans were begun in late 2017 to relocate it.
It said the existing facility was too small and lacked docking facilities, with limited capacity for training and other activities, so a larger facility was being established at a new location, with no change in function or relationships with foreign partners.
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China is Cambodia’s closest political ally and main source of economic support, through aid and investment.
