Cambodia's Defense Ministry insists that the months-long stationing of two Chinese warships at a strategically important naval base, which is being expanded with Chinese government funding, does not constitute a permanent deployment of Chinese troops. .
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — The Cambodian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that the months-long stationing of two Chinese warships at a strategically important naval base, which is being newly expanded with funding from the Chinese government, is a sign of the permanent presence of Chinese troops in the country. It was argued that this did not constitute a formal deployment.
The questions arose after the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported last month that two Chinese corvettes that docked at Reem Naval Base's new pier in December have remained stationed there almost permanently ever since. Ta.
Current satellite images analyzed by The Associated Press show the two ships remained there as of Wednesday, more than five months after they first appeared.
The United States and other countries have long feared that the new pier at Ream Naval Base, built with Chinese funds, could become a new Chinese naval outpost in the Gulf of Thailand, but Cambodia has said that is not the case. claims.
Asked why the two ships had been there for five months, defense ministry spokesman Gen. Chum Socheet told The Associated Press that the ships were scheduled to take part in joint Cambodian-China military exercises later this month. He also said that he had participated in the Cambodian training. Sailors.
“We are clear that Cambodia does not allow the deployment of any foreign forces within its territory,” he said. “That won't happen. This is set out in our constitution and we are fully compliant with it.”
He said the ships were also “testing” a new pier and were on display for Cambodia, which is considering purchasing similar warships for its navy.
“The ship is only at anchor for a training period, not permanently,” he said.
The controversy surrounding Reem Naval Base began in 2019 when The Wall Street Journal reported that an early draft of a well-received agreement, seen by U.S. officials, would allow China to station military personnel and store weapons at the base. It first arose when it was reported that it would allow use for 30 years. And anchor the warship.
The base borders the South China Sea, where China aggressively claims virtually the entire strategic waterway, and has easy access to the Straits of Malacca, a key shipping route from the Straits to the Indian Ocean. It also provides access.
The United States refuses to recognize China's extensive claims and routinely conducts military exercises to emphasize that these are international waters.
Cambodia's then-Prime Minister Hun Sen denied there was any such agreement. He pointed out that the Cambodian constitution does not allow foreign military bases to be set up in Cambodia, but said visiting ships from all countries are welcome.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Chum Socheat also said in a Facebook post late Tuesday that current Prime Minister Hun Sen's son Hun Manet had made similar comments in April.
But Washington-based CSIS said in a report that two Japanese destroyers that called in in February sailed to another port, while Cambodia's own boats continued to operate on an older, smaller pier south of the base. He pointed out that he was using it.
China operates only one recognized foreign military base in the impoverished but strategically important Horn of Africa country of Djibouti, but many say the Chinese military is busy building overseas networks. I believe.
The United States has more foreign military bases than any other country, including multiple facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
