Sihanoukville, Cambodia — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet officiated over the inauguration of an expanded naval base on Saturday amid suspicions from analysts and the U.S. government that it could serve as a strategic point for China. The enhancements at the Ream Naval Base, located in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand, have been recently completed and include a new pier capable of docking larger ships and a dry dock for repairs.
The project has been under international scrutiny largely because of Washington’s concerns, given Cambodia’s close ties with China, a major benefactor in terms of investment and aid. The U.S. has speculated that Cambodia has secretly allowed China exclusive usage rights at the base, a claim that Cambodian authorities consistently dismiss.
During the opening ceremony, Hun Manet mentioned that the event was occurring two weeks before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cambodia. He lauded Xi’s administration for their assistance in various developments, emphasizing strong bilateral relations. He assured that the Ream base’s expansion was not concealed from other nations and welcomed naval visits from friendly countries for joint exercises, except for larger vessels that the base cannot host.
He emphasized, “I would like to make it clear that under the Cambodian People’s Party leadership, the government has no intent to contravene its Constitution by allowing any nation’s troops to maintain exclusive bases on our soil.”
In Beijing, China’s Defense Ministry stated that the newly inaugurated China-Cambodia Ream Naval Base Joint Support and Training Center will support diverse joint operations ranging from counterterrorism to humanitarian assistance. The ministry assured that the center’s establishment roots in mutual respect and equal agreement between the two nations.
Senior member of China’s Central Military Commission, Cao Qingfeng, highlighted in his address that the base would boost the military bond between China and Cambodia. A delegation of over 100 Chinese sailors on temporary assignment at the base joined the ceremony.
Present at the occasion was Bridgette Walker, the senior U.S. diplomat in Cambodia, who refrained from commenting.
An upcoming visit by a Japanese vessel, set to be the initial non-Chinese warship to dock at Ream, has been announced by the Cambodian government. Cambodia noted this as a gesture towards fostering open and trusting international ties, especially with Japan.
Euan Graham of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute suggested this port call shows Cambodia’s effort to portray the base as open to various countries aside from China. Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force confirmed the invitation but did not elaborate further due to operational security.
Concerns about Chinese military use of the Ream base date back to a 2019 report by The Wall Street Journal, citing a potential agreement granting China a 30-year tenure with options for military presence and weapon storage.
China and Cambodia’s cooperative gestures restarted in 2022 with a new phase of the port project, reaffirming their strong political and military partnership, even tearing down U.S.-built naval facilities with minimal explanation.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry in September announced that China would provide two warships to Cambodia’s navy as part of the ongoing expansion project.