Cambodia Denies U.S. Full Access to Naval Base During Embassy Visit

[geovalin]

 

Defense official says full access would go against Cambodia’s sovereignty.

 

The U.S. embassy in Cambodia said Friday that its defense attaché was denied complete access during an invited visit to the country’s largest naval base, but a Cambodian official told RFA that Phnom Penh had never agreed to a full tour.

 

The tour Friday came 10 days after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, during a visit to Cambodia, voiced concern about Chinese military presence and construction of facilities at Ream Naval Base on the site of a U.S.-built structure Phnom Penh razed last year.

 

According to the embassy’s statement, when Sherman met with Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen on June 1, he agreed to allow U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché, Colonel Marcus M. Ferrara to visit the base regularly.

 

“During the brief visit, Cambodian military officials refused to allow the Defense Attaché full access to the Naval Base,” the embassy said.

“When it became clear he would not be granted adequate access, Colonel Ferrara ended the tour and requested Cambodian military officials reschedule the visit with full access at the earliest opportunity,” it said, adding that regular visits to the base were an important for transparency and mutual trust.

 

A Cambodian Defense Ministry official told RFA’s Khmer Service in an interview that the ministry was “disappointed” with the embassy’s “inaccurate” statement.

 

“We allowed the U.S. official to visit a few important places that the U.S. said were suspicious, and they accused Cambodia of wrongdoing there in the past,” said Lt. Gen. Suon Samnang, deputy director of the ministry’s foreign affairs department.

 

“On the contrary, it is the U.S. that has committed a breach of trust, asking for more than what we agreed upon,” he said. The U.S. first said it wanted to see the locations where Washington had funded buildings on the base, and requested to see other places which Cambodia rejected.

 

“The other places they wanted to visit… were contrary to what we had originally agreed upon, so Cambodia could not accept the request. It infringes on our sovereignty and our right to protect our military secrecy,” said Suon Samang.

 

When asked which areas Cambodia denied Ferrara access to, Suon Samang declined to elaborate.

RFA was unable to reach Minister of Defense Tea Banh for comment.

 

Tea Banh last week told local media that China would be involved in the modernization and expansion of Ream Naval Base, but that other countries would be granted access to inspect it.

 

In September, Cambodia demolished the Tactical Headquarters of the National Committee for Maritime Security at Ream Naval Base, which was renovated and built by the U.S., equipped by Australia, and inaugurated in 2012. The U.S. raised questions about China’s role in renovating the base.

 

Political analyst Em Sovanara told RFA that disagreement between the U.S. and Cambodia over Ream Naval base will affect the two countries’ relationship. He said that the U.S. should request exact locations to inspect ahead of their next visit.

 

The disagreement over Friday’s visit comes at a time when Washington is trying to limit China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia, especially in the South China Sea.

 

Vietnam Thursday said it was aware that China was helping Cambodia upgrade Ream.

“Vietnam is a good, friendly and traditional neighbor of both China and Cambodia, and we want Sino-Cambodian relations to positively contribute to the peace, security, stability and prosperity of the whole region and the world,” Le Thi Thu Hang, Hanoi’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, told state media.

 

Reported by RFA’s Khmer and Vietnamese Services. Translated by Samean Yun and Anny Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong. 

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/inmates-06102021211030.html

Copyright © 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036.

[impulse]

Come on back after they give the Cambodian entourage a tour of Area 51...

 

Meanwhile, they'll have to follow the progress by satellite.

 

[mfd101]

Cambodia has (perhaps) quite a bit to hide but Usofa trying to push them around is foolish tactics.

[Caldera]

I picture that scene as the Khmers hiding a gigantic Chinese underground hangar from the visiting US colonel...

[tifino]

 the Cambodians response was very CCP-like in the wording used... 

[Smithson]

Will the US ever let Australians visit Pine Gap?

[Ireland32]

Chinese Province , what you expect Red Carpet 

[Ireland32]

4 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Cambodia has (perhaps) quite a bit to hide but Usofa trying to push them around is foolish tactics.

Push them around , you get that info off Cambodian Times newspaper or Chinese Hot Press 

[mfd101]

4 hours ago, Smithson said:

Will the US ever let Australians visit Pine Gap?

Yes. Long since.

[bangon04]

9 hours ago, tifino said:

 the Cambodians response was very CCP-like in the wording used... 

Yes - it sounds like something straight out of the CCP playbook......

[tomyami]

cambodia is already China owned so do one....

[JamieM]

Looks like Cambodia is completely under control now.

 

Thailand and Myanmar will be next, if they are not already completely compromised.

 

Vietnam won't have it it didn't work out too well last time the Chinese tried that.

[Kinnock]

I't's Cold War 2 and everyone has to pick a side.

[Scouse123]

The Yanks gave them a load of aid money to develop that naval base, they have a right to know why it's been destroyed and replaced to suit the Chinese, coupled with the fact that the Cambodian government is deliberately obstruction them from carrying out the necessary checks that they agreed to, but using a ' play on words '  to deny that access.

 

With regards to the point they are concerned about the secrecy of their country's defense, I can't see the USA being particularly interested in a few rusty old second hand surface ships belonging to the Cambodian Navy.

 

They are hiding something and didn't expect the USA to send somebody who knew what to look for as opposed to a walkabout by some US Ambassador.

 

They are selling their soul to the highest bidder. which is the Chinese in this case. In return, they support the Chinese in any dealings, summits or meetings of neighboring countries regarding any disputes in the South China sea.

 

Hun Sen treats Cambodia as his personal plaything and private bank account.

 

He has no honour and his words are empty.

[Damrongsak]

"... In September, Cambodia demolished the Tactical Headquarters of the National Committee for Maritime Security at Ream Naval Base, which was renovated and built by the U.S., equipped by Australia, and inaugurated in 2012. The U.S. raised questions about China’s role in renovating the base.  ..."

 

Demolished a 10 year old building(s)?  Probably thought it was bugged. 

[JamieM]

20 minutes ago, Damrongsak said:

"... In September, Cambodia demolished the Tactical Headquarters of the National Committee for Maritime Security at Ream Naval Base, which was renovated and built by the U.S., equipped by Australia, and inaugurated in 2012. The U.S. raised questions about China’s role in renovating the base.  ..."

 

Demolished a 10 year old building(s)?  Probably thought it was bugged. 

The Cambodian government actually said it was old, as a reason for demolishing it, it was completed in 2017.

 

Gives you an idea about how honest they are being about the whole China thing...

 

 

[Damrongsak]

15 minutes ago, JamieM said:

The Cambodian government actually said it was old, as a reason for demolishing it, it was completed in 2017.

 

Gives you an idea about how honest they are being about the whole China thing...

 

 

OK, the article said it was renovated about 10 years ago.  And we know how things are built and maintained in these parts.  Might have needed a new straw roof and new foundation.

Edited June 12, 2021 by Damrongsak

[JamieM]

Just now, Damrongsak said:

OK, the article said it was renovated about 10 years ago.  And we know how things are built and maintained in these parts.  Might have needed a new straw roof and new foundation.

No it was in brand new condition it was just some bs they came up with as an excuse so they can get rid of it.

[Smithson]

For decades western countries pumped aid money into Cambodia, ignoring the corruption in the hope of gaining influence. Looks like it's failed. China's too big, too close. From what I've seen the Cambodian people aren't happy with the Chinese influence and it's dodgy casino culture.

[mfd101]

4 hours ago, Kinnock said:

I't's Cold War 2 and everyone has to pick a side.

Yes but some (such as the Thais - viz 1941-5) are pretty good at slithering thru the undergrowth in between.

[LomSak27]

18 hours ago, mfd101 said:

Cambodia has (perhaps) quite a bit to hide but Usofa trying to push them around is foolish tactics.

 

This actually what military (defense) attaches do. The Russian and Chinese military attaches to the USA, apply for, and visit US military facilities and vice versa. Learn something every day bub.

Edited June 13, 2021 by LomSak27

[Scouse123]

On 6/13/2021 at 5:59 AM, JamieM said:

The Cambodian government actually said it was old, as a reason for demolishing it, it was completed in 2017.

 

Gives you an idea about how honest they are being about the whole China thing...

 

 

 

Probably one of the newest buildings there was in Cambodia!