Photo of Chinese warships at Cambodia’s Ream base in December 2023 – Photo: AFP
On September 5, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata confirmed to AFP that China will send two new Type 056C corvettes to Phnom Penh, as early as 2025.
The vessels are being built specifically for Cambodia, Socheata said. They are small vessels typically used for coastal patrols. The AP news agency said the vessels are the same type of Chinese warships that have been at the Ream base for months.
“The sole objective is to enhance Cambodia’s capacity and capability to protect and maintain peace, stability, security, as well as support search and rescue operations and other humanitarian activities at sea,” said Ms. Socheata.
China has funded the renovation of Cambodia’s strategic Ream Naval Base, which the US fears could give Beijing a strategically important position in the Gulf of Thailand near the South China Sea.
Ms Socheata said the “first phase” of the Ream base expansion was complete and the second phase of work was underway and would be completed soon.
Some reports suggest that China will also hand over to Cambodia newly expanded facilities at the Ream naval base, including a new long pier capable of accommodating much larger naval vessels than what Cambodia has in its fleet.
However, Ms. Socheata did not comment on this information and denied that the Ream base would be used by foreign troops, affirming that Cambodia would not allow any foreign troops to be stationed in the country.
Last year, Cambodian officials denied allowing Chinese aircraft carriers to dock at a new 363-meter-long pier at Ream base.