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Another US facility demolished at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, says US think tank
- News comes amid concern over possible ‘secret deal’ to allow Chinese forces at base
- Cambodia is one of Beijing’s closest allies in Southeast Asia and has received billions of dollars of Chinese aid
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Another US-built facility at a naval base in Cambodia has been demolished, US researchers said on Monday, citing recent satellite imagery.
The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published images showing a Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat maintenance facility at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base still standing on October 1 and the same site without it on November 4.
The news comes after the Pentagon said last month it was concerned about reports that the US-funded Cambodian Navy tactical headquarters facility at Ream just south of the maintenance facility had been demolished.
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Last year, the Pentagon asked Cambodia to explain why it turned down an offer to repair the base, saying the decision had raised speculation of possible plans for hosting China’s military at a time of growing Sino-US tensions.
Cambodia said last month it had razed the headquarters facility to allow for further expansion and would relocate it, while denying reports of Chinese involvement. It has repeatedly denied reports it has reached a secret deal to let Beijing place forces at the base.
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