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China-Asean relations
AsiaSoutheast Asia

Dredgers spotted off Cambodia’s Ream naval base where China is funding work, says US think tank

  • The creation of deeper port facilities could allow larger military ships to dock at the site
  • A Centre for Strategic and International Studies report says this was part of Cambodia’s secret deal to grant China access to the base

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Cambodian navy crew stand on a patrol boat at the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville in July 2019. Photo: AP
Reuters
Dredgers have been spotted off Cambodia’s Ream naval base, where China is funding construction work and deeper port facilities would be necessary for the docking of larger military ships, a US think tank said on Friday.
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The United States, which has sought to push back against Beijing’s extensive territorial claims and military expansion in the South China Sea, reiterated its “serious concerns” about China’s construction and military presence at Ream.

“These developments threaten US and partner interests, regional security, and Cambodia’s sovereignty,” a spokesperson for the State Department said.

The report from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank said the dredgers could be seen in photos released this month by the Cambodian government and in commercial satellite imagery.

“Dredging of deeper port facilities would be necessary for the docking of larger military ships at Ream, and was part of a secret agreement between China and Cambodia that US officials reported seeing in 2019,” the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at CSIS reported.

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It cited a 2019 Wall Street Journal report that said the deal granted China military access to the base in return for funding facilities improvements.

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