Japanese Naval Visit to Cambodia Counters China Base Fears

Japanese Embassy

PHNOM PENH — Two Japanese warships docked on Saturday at Cambodia’s newly expanded Ream Naval Base, in a high-profile visit aimed at signalling transparency amid U.S. concerns the facility could serve as a Chinese military outpost.

The Bungo and Etajima, minesweepers from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, became the first foreign naval vessels to call at the base since a Chinese-funded upgrade was completed earlier this month. Their arrival, greeted by Cambodian officials including Rear Admiral Mean Savoeun, is seen as a diplomatic move to counter speculation about China’s exclusive access to the site.

Ream Naval Base has drawn international scrutiny since a 2019 report suggested a secret agreement that could allow Beijing to station military assets there for up to 30 years. The Cambodian government has repeatedly denied granting China sole use of the facility, asserting that warships from any friendly nation may dock—if they meet set conditions.

The Japanese Defence Minister, Gen Nakatani, framed the visit as a symbol of friendship and a step towards regional stability. "This port call supports an open, transparent naval presence and underscores the need for freedom of navigation and a rules-based international order," he said earlier in the week.

The timing is notable, coming just a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a state visit to Cambodia, during which the two countries deepened strategic ties.

Cambodia’s invitation to Japan is widely interpreted as an effort to demonstrate that Ream is not under exclusive Chinese control, especially as the United States continues to express alarm over China’s expanding military footprint across Southeast Asia.

Japan’s embassy in Phnom Penh called the four-day stop a “historically significant event” for bilateral relations, part of a wider mission visiting 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

The visit also follows last year’s rare U.S. Navy stop at the nearby civilian port of Sihanoukville, further highlighting Cambodia’s balancing act between major powers in the region.

-2025-04-21