South China Morning Post
Advertisement
Advertisement
Cambodia
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more
A satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows a Cambodian naval base in Ream on April 25, 2022. Photo: Planet Labs PBC via AP
ChinaDiplomacy

China hails ‘ironclad partnership’ with Cambodia as work begins on naval base, raising US concern

  • Cambodian defence minister dismisses fears that his country would let China build a military base on its soil, saying any country could use the facilities
  • New port near South China Sea will be deepened to accommodate larger military ships and will include maintenance facility, dry dock slipway and pier
Cambodia
Reuters
Reuters
Why you can trust SCMP
A Chinese official said on Wednesday an “ironclad partnership” with Cambodia was bolstered by military cooperation, as work began on a China-funded upgrade of Cambodia’s biggest naval base that has raised US concern about China’s growing influence.

Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh dismissed fears that Cambodia would let China build a military base on its soil, saying any country could use the facilities at the Ream naval base, while Cambodia was open to accepting military help from anyone.

Cambodians vote in local election amid intimidation, threats

“As a strong pillar of the ironclad partnership, China-Cambodia military cooperation is in the fundamental interests of our two nations and two peoples,” China’s ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian said in a speech at a ceremony to break ground at the base on the Gulf of Thailand.

The US has raised “serious concerns” about China’s involvement with the base, saying it undermines regional security.

Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Banh, right, and China’s ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian take part in a groundbreaking ceremony at the Ream naval base in Preah Sihanouk province on June 8, 2022. Photo: Agence France-Presse

Last year, the US accused Cambodia of not being transparent about China’s role in upgrading the facility.

Cambodia-US ties have been frayed for years over US accusations that long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and his ruling party have stifled democracy through the persecution of the opposition.

Hun Sen, dismissing such concerns, has moved close to China, which is by far the biggest investor in Cambodia.

02:17

China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability

China confirms signing of Solomon Islands security pact, as US warns of regional instability
The new port, near important shipping lanes and the contested South China Sea, will be deepened to allow larger military ships to dock, and will include a maintenance facility, dry dock slipway and pier.

Underlining Cambodia’s warm ties with China, Tea Banh this week posted pictures on social media of him taking a dip in the sea with Wang near the base.

But Tea Banh was also keen to allay fears in the US and the region that Cambodia might open the door to China’s military.

“The Kingdom of Cambodia will not allow a foreign military base on its own territory,” he said in a speech on Wednesday.

13