Private Military Base?: Concern over China's influence in Cambodia

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported that there were two warplanes. These ships – or similar ones – have been docked there since the end of 2023. But larger ships should also be able to dock at the pier. There are other buildings on the land said to have been built by China, and the BBC believes these are intended for use by the Chinese Navy.

The country's southernmost port, Ream, was originally expanded with the United States. According to the BBC, Washington paid millions of euros in military aid annually, but reduced it in 2017 after banning the largest opposition party in the country.

The maneuvers with the United States stopped

This led to Cambodia turning to Beijing: joint military exercises with the United States were canceled and are now conducted with China instead. Two buildings constructed in Ra'am with American assistance were demolished in 2020. The Chinese-built pier was finally completed in 2023.

Cambodia says the Chinese ships are used to train its forces and to prepare for joint military exercises with China. The Chinese presence in Ream is not permanent, so the rule is not considered a Chinese rule – and therefore constitutional, according to the BBC.

Deputy Prime Minister: “Every naval force” is allowed to dock

However, the United States responded with concern. “Ream Naval Base is not for the Chinese,” Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Son Chanthol reassured last week. Reuters quoted the politician as saying: “China has supported us in expanding the scope of Ream for our national defense.” Once the base is ready, “any naval force will be allowed to dock at this port.”

According to the BBC, two Japanese ships were ordered to dock at another port in February. So far, only Chinese warships have been allowed to dock. Cambodia then rejected a Wall Street Journal report from 2019 stating that China had leased 77 hectares of land from Cambodia for 30 years, including the location of the army and weapons, as false information.

According to experts, the permanent stationing of the Chinese army in Ream will relatively not benefit Beijing much. But the Chinese presence disturbed neighboring countries Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam fears that Chinese military bases could effectively surround the country's coast, according to the BBC. Vietnam claims several disputed islands in the South China Sea. Thailand, in turn, fears that China will close the Gulf of Thailand, according to the BBC.

Cambodia is approaching China

First and foremost, the expanded port at Ream shows that China clearly wants to expand the scope of its naval forces. China now has more ships than the United States, but only one military base outside its country, specifically in Djibouti. For comparison, the United States operates more than 750 such bases, according to the BBC.

It is also clear that Cambodia is moving closer to China. It was only last August that the start of construction of a huge canal project caused a huge uproar, because China was also controlling things in the background. The project, which cost about one and a half billion euros, was entirely financed by Beijing as part of the “New Silk Road” trade project.