Cambodia Opens China-Backed Naval Base Amid Western Scrutiny

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KT

 

Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet has officially inaugurated a newly renovated naval base at Ream, backed by Chinese funding and engineering—drawing praise from Beijing and fresh scrutiny from the West.

 

Speaking at the high-profile ceremony on 5 April, Hun Manet insisted there was “nothing to hide” about the base’s purpose, amid long-standing concerns from the United States over its potential use by China’s navy. “From today, Cambodia will welcome all friends to hold joint exercises in the Ream base,” he said, rejecting claims of exclusivity and promising access for foreign navies.

 

The base, situated on Cambodia’s southern coast near the contested South China Sea, has strategic implications. Since 2019, Washington has voiced concerns that China could be gaining a foothold in the Gulf of Thailand, citing reports of a secret agreement between Phnom Penh and Beijing. In 2022, US outlets reported the upgrades were designed for Chinese military use—allegations Cambodian officials continue to deny.

 

At Saturday’s ceremony, attended by military representatives from multiple countries, Cambodia rolled out the red carpet for delegates from China’s People’s Liberation Army. Senior Chinese officer Cao Qingfeng described the port as a symbol of “iron-clad friendship” and pledged it would “inject new momentum into regional security”. He confirmed the site would host joint exercises, including the annual Golden Dragon drills next month.

 

The base’s refurbishment, undertaken since 2022 with Chinese assistance, includes a 363-metre pier where Chinese warships first docked late last year. Two more Chinese vessels are set to be delivered to Cambodia, further deepening defence ties.

 

Hun Manet also announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Cambodia this month, a move that underscores Beijing’s growing influence in the region. Under former prime minister Hun Sen—Manet’s father—China funnelled billions into Cambodian infrastructure, as ties with Washington cooled.

 

Nonetheless, Cambodia has made efforts to show balance. A US warship docked in nearby Sihanoukville in December, the first in eight years, followed by a visit from a senior US commander in February. Last month, Cambodia revealed a Japanese warship would be the first foreign vessel to dock at Ream since its reopening.

 

Whether such gestures will ease strategic anxieties remains to be seen. But Phnom Penh is clearly positioning Ream not just as a naval base, but as a litmus test for its diplomatic balancing act between East and West.

 

-2025-04-07