Cambodia and China have long denied the existence of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. [PLAN] The United States has also threatened to station warships in Cambodia permanently, but Western observers and analysts have proven correct, and the denial appears to have been merely a smokescreen by authorities in Beijing and Phnom Penh.
According to Italian publication RID, the Chinese Navy now has an official naval base in Ream. Ream is located in southern Cambodia and provides access to the Gulf of Thailand, which is part of the South China Sea. This strategic location gives the Chinese Navy quick access to the South China Sea and gives it an advantageous position near US allies, particularly the Philippines and Taiwan. RID reports that the facility is now fully operational and Cambodian authorities have begun to use it as a “basic facility” to justify the Chinese presence. “A base for training Cambodian seafarers and testing new wharfs”
China’s new naval base in Ream, Cambodia, strengthens China’s strategic position, especially in the context of a potential conflict with Taiwan or the U.S. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, the base provides China with a key foothold in Southeast Asia and enhances its power projection capabilities in the South China Sea and surrounding areas.
The base’s proximity to key maritime routes is also a key factor. The South China Sea is a vital corridor for global trade, and a significant portion of the world’s shipping passes through the region. Control and influence over the region could allow China to either disrupt or secure these routes, depending on its strategic objectives.
In the event of a conflict involving Taiwan, Ream could serve as a logistics and operations base for the Chinese navy, allowing for faster deployment of assets and providing an operational foothold, thereby expanding China’s influence and operational capabilities in the region.
The base also serves as a counterbalance to the U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The United States has several bases in the region, including Japan, South Korea and Guam. Setting up a base in Cambodia would allow China to better monitor and potentially counter U.S. naval activities, enhancing its strategic deterrent.
Furthermore, Ream base will strengthen China’s influence in Cambodia and, ultimately, in ASEAN. [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]This could increase China’s political and military influence in regional affairs and further consolidate its dominant position in Southeast Asia.
The story of the Cambodia-China secret deal to upgrade the Ream Naval Base begins with Cambodia rejecting a US offer to fund the upgrade of the base. In 2019, the US expressed concerns about the strategic implications of Chinese involvement in Cambodia’s military infrastructure. The US offered to help fund the upgrade of the Ream Naval Base, which is strategically located in the Gulf of Thailand.
Cambodia rejected the U.S. offer, citing its commitment to national sovereignty and maintaining control over its military facilities. Shortly thereafter, reports emerged of a secret agreement between Cambodia and China that would allow China to fund and carry out the renovation of the Ream naval base. The deal raised alarm in Washington and among regional players, who feared it could lead to a Chinese military presence in Cambodia.
The Cambodian government initially denied any such agreement with China existed, but satellite imagery and subsequent reports showed extensive construction activity at Ream base, consistent with upgrades to support larger naval vessels, stoking speculation that the upgrades were part of a broader strategy by China to expand its influence and military power in Southeast Asia.
The secrecy of the agreement and the subsequent development of Ream Base have increased tensions between the United States and Cambodia. U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern that the base could be used by Chinese forces, potentially shifting the regional balance of power. The Cambodian government continues to insist that the base remains under Cambodian control and will not be used by foreign militaries.
This situation is part of a larger pattern of Chinese investment and influence in Cambodia that has expanded significantly over the past decade. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has led to significant infrastructure investment in Cambodia, including roads, bridges and ports. The Ream Naval Base agreement is seen by many as a strategic expansion of this broader economic and geopolitical relationship.
The dispute over Ream naval base highlights the complex dynamics of regional security and strategic competition between the United States and China, and the challenges faced by small countries like Cambodia, which must accommodate the interests of larger powers while maintaining their own sovereignty and security.
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