China conducts military exercises at the recently expanded naval base in Cambodia

On Sunday, China and Cambodia conducted joint military exercises at the newly expanded Ream Naval Base, located along the Gulf of Thailand coast. This facility has raised concerns in the United States, which fears it may serve as a military outpost for China. The exercises took place just a day after the base’s inauguration, with warships from both nations engaging in maneuvers, as reported by China Central Television (CCTV).

Looking ahead, such military drills are expected to increase in frequency and will likely incorporate not only naval forces but also land and air components. This development is seen as a means to “safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea,” according to the Global Times, a state-run Chinese publication that cited military experts.

Since the commencement of a Beijing-funded upgrade in June 2022, Chinese naval vessels have been regularly visiting Ream, situated in Sihanoukville province. This upgrade followed Cambodia’s demolition of a U.S.-constructed facility at the base in 2020, after the country declined an offer from Washington to repair it.

Cambodia has consistently refuted claims of a secret agreement with China to station military forces at the base, asserting its willingness to accommodate military vessels from other nations. The inauguration ceremony for the expanded base was attended by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and a delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), with the new facility now featuring a pier capable of accommodating larger ships, as reported by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.