US envoy in Cambodia says ‘concerned’ about possible Chinese military facility at Ream naval base

‘We are concerned by the possibility of a PRC military facility,’ State Department envoy Derek Chollet said, referring to China by its official name

His visit to Phnom Penh came days after the United States ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, amid other factors

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US State Department Counsellor Derek Chollet speaks during a briefing with media in Phnom Penh. Photo: US Embassy in Cambodia Handout via Reuters

Published: 3:35pm, 11 Dec 2021

A US State Department envoy has conveyed his concerns to top Cambodian officials about bilateral and regional issues, including the crisis in Myanmar and the construction of Chinese military facilities at a Cambodian naval base.

The visit by Counsellor Derek Chollet to Phnom Penh on Friday came days after the United States ordered an arms embargo on Cambodia, citing deepening Chinese military influence, corruption and human rights abuses in the Southeast Asian country.

Chollet told journalists his discussions with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn involved issues related to Myanmar and China, as well as the role Cambodia intends to play as the new chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose efforts to mediate peace in Myanmar have fallen short.

Military trucks are seen parked in front of the Immanuel Baptist Church in central Yangon, Myanmar, on Friday. Photo: EPA

Myanmar has become increasingly unstable since its army seized power in February, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The military has sought to forcefully crush popular opposition to its takeover, which could end up plunging the country into civil war, UN experts have said.

Washington takes a hard line against Myanmar’s military-installed government, and has applied targeted diplomatic and economic sanctions against the ruling generals. Asean prefers soft measures when dealing with one of its members, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said this week he plans to travel to Myanmar next month for talks with its leaders.

Chollet said his talks with Prak Sokhonn and other officials were open, workmanlike and constructive.

He said he reiterated Washington’s concerns about Cambodia’s relationship with China that led to it applying the arms embargo.