A Jungle Airstrip Stirs Suspicions About China’s Plans for Cambodia

[geovalin]

The Chinese military’s “string of pearls” strategy depends on far-flung regional outposts. Some think Cambodia is becoming one.

 

DARA SAKOR, Cambodia — The airstrip stretches like a scar through what was once unspoiled Cambodian jungle.

 

When completed next year on a remote stretch of shoreline, Dara Sakor International Airport will boast the longest runway in Cambodia, complete with the kind of tight turning bay favored by fighter jet pilots. Nearby, workers are clearing trees from a national park to make way for a port deep enough to host naval ships.

 

The politically connected Chinese company building the airstrip and port says the facilities are for civilian use. But the scale of the land deal at Dara Sakor — which secures 20 percent of Cambodia’s coastline for 99 years — has raised eyebrows, especially since the portion of the project built so far is already moldering in malarial jungle.

 

Read the very long report here : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/world/asia/cambodia-china-military-bases.html

[Somtamnication]

Why am I not surprised? The next war will be with them. Then the Russians will take advantage of it and go in the other way. 

[phuketrichard]

read on;

with good graphs and info

http://www.mcc.sg/Dara-Sakor/index-eng.html

 

and than read

 

Edited December 24, 2019 by phuketrichard

[yellowboat]

Can't be.  Hun Sen would not do this then try to play a round of golf with Trump while he is being kind of sort of impeached.  

 

Having less faith in those running governments everyday.

[sead]

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, geovalin said:

The politically connected Chinese company building the airstrip and port says the facilities are for civilian use. But the scale of the land deal at Dara Sakor — which secures 20 percent of Cambodia’s coastline for 99 years — has raised eyebrows, especially since the portion of the project built so far is already moldering in malarial jungle.

Hun Sen has sold out Cambodia to the Chinese.

[neeray]

21 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Hun Sen has sold out Cambodia to the Chinese.

At least he "sold" out!

Better than a neighbouring country that might just "give" it all away.

[steve187]

7 hours ago, phuketrichard said:

read on;

with good graphs and info

http://www.mcc.sg/Dara-Sakor/index-eng.html

 

and than read

 

not that secret its in a published book

[neeray]

5 minutes ago, steve187 said:

not that secret its in a published book

But it's still a secret if people like me don't know about the book or the link.

So I say thank you to @phuketrichard   

[Redline]

1 hour ago, sead said:

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

Just like Trump only wants rich European Conservatives.
What race are you?  Where will you be welcomed?

Edited December 24, 2019 by Redline

[Redline]

It’s part of China-undeveloped suberb 

[Nigel Garvie]

2 hours ago, sead said:

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

"Despite recently closing hundreds of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States still maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad—from giant “Little Americas” to small radar facilities. Britain, France and Russia, by contrast, have about 30 foreign bases combined." 

 

It is not great to see China in expansionist mood, or their concentration camps for the Uigars, but who did they learn from? Before the Cold War when US and Russia were vying for control, the UK had a huge empire. Indeed the European colonial powers controlled most of the globe.

 

The US still have numerous battle fleets and China has one, a long way to go yet I imagine. Sadly it seems that the corruption level is so high in SEAsia and elsewhere that many countries leaders would sell out to the Chinese for their personal gain. Oh boy do the Chinese know this, they have already capitalised on this fact in Sri Lanka, and a number of African states.

Edited December 24, 2019 by Nigel Garvie

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, neeray said:

Hun Sen has sold out Cambodia to the Chinese.

 

3 hours ago, neeray said:

At least he "sold" out!

Better than a neighbouring country that might just "give" it all away.

Yes there is a slight difference.

My meaning was he has sold the Cambodians down the river, he's pocketed billions and will one day go into exile to live a rich happy retirement, while the Cambodian future generations will have to bow to a new flag because China have rights to what they've bought!

Thailand begs Chinese to get involved in financing infrastructure projects because they don't wish to lay-out Thai funds. They will happily tell the Thai populous we're doing this we're doing that but they are doing sod all accept allowing China to slowly but surely put their master plan into action, the new silk road!

[Inn Between]

1 hour ago, Nigel Garvie said:

"Despite recently closing hundreds of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States still maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad—from giant “Little Americas” to small radar facilities. Britain, France and Russia, by contrast, have about 30 foreign bases combined." 

I get the impression that the military-industrial complex US citizen were warned to prevent by one of their own presidents, Mr. Eisenhower, is very much alive and thriving to serve the coffers of the haves. The strong global military presence of the US isn't going anywhere as long as it continues to make the obscenely rich even richer. To outfit a US soldier for combat presently costs taxpayers $17,500, just give an idea of a small amount of the vast sums of money involved.  

[White Christmas13]

8 hours ago, neeray said:

At least he "sold" out!

Better than a neighbouring country that might just "give" it all away.

I wonder which country that might be.

[honcho]

9 hours ago, sead said:

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

most americans have some morals and religion whereas most chinese would sell there own mother.... they probably will use cambodia as a rubbish dump

[DaRoadrunner]

8 hours ago, Nigel Garvie said:

Sadly it seems that the corruption level is so high in SE Asia and elsewhere that many countries leaders would sell out to the Chinese for their personal gain.

The same has happened in Thailand, except the Thais have managed to retain control.... so far.

[SupermarineS6B]

"Lords of the Rim" by Sterling Seagrave....... It's all in there.....no news here.........

Edited December 24, 2019 by SupermarineS6B

[SupermarineS6B]

5 hours ago, honcho said:

most americans have some morals and religion whereas most chinese would sell there own mother.... they probably will use cambodia as a rubbish dump

Yep, last time China had their man in millions of people died..........    Memory's short eh.......

[ross163103]

23 hours ago, geovalin said:

The politically connected Chinese company building the airstrip and port says the facilities are for civilian use.

Yeah right, just like the islands in the south china sea. They were for a "fisherman's rest"; now 8-9 years later nuclear capable bombers have landed on them along with anti-ship and surface to air missles being deployed on them......hmmmm, maybe to protect the fishermen.  

[ThomasThBKK]

7 hours ago, honcho said:

most americans have some morals and religion whereas most chinese would sell there own mother.... they probably will use cambodia as a rubbish dump

Not only mother, also gutter oil:

 

 

[ThaiFelix]

12 hours ago, Inn Between said:

I get the impression that the military-industrial complex US citizen were warned to prevent by one of their own presidents, Mr. Eisenhower, is very much alive and thriving to serve the coffers of the haves. The strong global military presence of the US isn't going anywhere as long as it continues to make the obscenely rich even richer. To outfit a US soldier for combat presently costs taxpayers $17,500, just give an idea of a small amount of the vast sums of money involved.  

Appears to be very few reliable sources to this article as most come from the Pentagon and Washington.  If you believe those sources then you still believe in Saddam's WMD's; that Saddam was allied with Bin laden, and there is a communist under every bed playing dominoes. 

 

The US is now in a position to move on to a new enemy as it has by now completely destabilised the Middle East.  It has forced the Iraqis to pay the US in oil for rescuing them (hahaha) from the leader the CIA put there in the first place. And it is successfully and blatantly stealing Syria's oil (just so it doesnt fall into the wrong hands of course lol).  So, the Middle East can now sigh with relief as the US and its military industrial complex has found a new source of income enemy in China.  Let the propaganda begin!

[phuketrichard]

how did  this go from being about Cambodia to being about america?
seems so many on all se asian forums love to bash america.. Jealous??LOL

[holy cow cm]

17 hours ago, sead said:

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

You might as well just become a commie. Nothing good comes from it and your statement is lacking intelligence. 

[Dumbastheycome]

13 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

how did  this go from being about Cambodia to being about america?
seems so many on all se asian forums love to bash america.. Jealous??LOL

Perhaps that is because the tone of the topics tends  to imply that anything China  does is automatically contrary to the world but in truth contrary to  US domination. It is a problem for the US to counter China "paying" its way in to new  territory versus US presence gained militarily.  IMO there are many who see the great possibility the US will yet again find an excuse to use weapons to try and preserve a position of self presumed "right". Is it  "bashing" America to question the propaganda in light of some  very obvious events recent history?

[Traubert]

On 12/24/2019 at 9:29 AM, geovalin said:

he Chinese military’s “string of pearls” strategy depends on far-flung regional outposts. Some think Cambodia is becoming one.

One. Djibouti. It protects a port they own at the southern end of the Red Sea. That's every 'far flung outpost' China has.

 

If the opening statement is bowlocks, the rest of the article and it's source must be.

 

Does anyone still believe that these 800 American outposts are preserving world peace given that they've bombed 33 countries since WW2 unopposed?

[Enoon]

18 hours ago, sead said:

Well. I rather see them there than Rusdians or Americans. They are Asians so they have more right than some Americans that have been doing <deleted> all over the world 

 

I suspect that if one were to ask the "average" Cambodian (not you or Hun Sen) which they would "rather see", you would get the same answer as if you had asked which nationality tourists they would prefer.

 

Perhaps, as a rough guide, you might like to step out the door and ask an average Thai which nationality tourist they would prefer.

 

Given the proximity of the two countries, and their similar cultures, it might very possibly be the same answer.

 

 

Edited December 25, 2019 by Enoon

[Traubert]

18 minutes ago, Enoon said:

 

I suspect that if one were to ask the "average" Cambodian (not you or Hun Sen) which they would "rather see", you would get the same answer as if you had asked which nationality tourists they would prefer.

 

Perhaps, as a rough guide, you might like to step out the door and ask an average Thai which nationality tourist they would prefer.

 

Given the proximity of the two countries, and their similar cultures, it might very possibly be the same answer.

 

 

It would, undoubtedly the Chinese. ????

 

China - jobs, money, infrastructure. Easy.

[Enoon]

35 minutes ago, Traubert said:

One. Djibouti. It protects a port they own at the southern end of the Red Sea. That's every 'far flung outpost' China has.

 

If the opening statement is bowlocks, the rest of the article and it's source must be.

 

Does anyone still believe that these 800 American outposts are preserving world peace given that they've bombed 33 countries since WW2 unopposed?

 

It doesn't say that all the outposts are currently established.

 

The strategy depends on their future establishment.

 

The strategy is a "work in progress".

 

Currently progressing exceedingly well in the South China Sea.

 

strategy

/ˈstratɪdʒi/

Learn to pronounce

noun

noun: strategy; plural noun: strategies

1. 1.

   a plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.

    

    

    

    

Edited December 25, 2019 by Enoon

[ICELANDMAN]

2 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Not only mother, also gutter oil:

 

 

Enjoy your meal