China Launches War Games at Cambodia Naval Base

Chinese military

In a bold signal of growing global ambition, China has deployed a powerful amphibious warship and other naval assets to Cambodia for joint military drills — the first at its newly unveiled overseas base near the disputed South China Sea.

The exercise, dubbed Golden Dragon 2025, began this week at the Ream Naval Base, a Chinese-funded facility on Cambodia’s southern coast. It marks Beijing’s second publicly acknowledged foreign military outpost after Djibouti, and its first of this kind in Southeast Asia — sparking concern among Western observers.

China’s Defence Ministry says the drills will focus on counter-terrorism, disaster relief, and humanitarian operations, spanning land, sea and air. But the presence of the CNS Changbaishan — a Type 071 amphibious landing vessel capable of carrying hundreds of marines, vehicles and helicopters — points to more than just soft-power projection.

Satellite images and military reports also confirm two Chinese Type 056A corvettes have been stationed at the base since at least 2023, further suggesting long-term basing intentions.

Beijing claims the facility is for peaceful cooperation and regional stability. But the base’s proximity to the South China Sea — where China asserts sweeping territorial claims challenged by multiple neighbours — is fuelling speculation about its strategic value. Washington, in a recent Pentagon report, warned that China seeks to project and sustain military force globally, especially in support of its Belt and Road investments abroad.

Cambodia, heavily backed by Chinese infrastructure funding, insists the base is a joint facility and not a launchpad for regional aggression. Still, analysts see the drills as a test run for broader ambitions, including potential patrols in contested waters.

Whether this marks a shift towards routine Chinese military operations from Cambodia remains unclear. What’s certain is that Beijing’s naval reach has taken a significant step forward — and the world is watching.

-2025-05-14