https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/china-c ... ry-drills/
China-Cambodia Defense Ties in the Spotlight with Military Drills
The second iteration of Exercise Golden Dragon is yet another sign of their deepening military cooperation.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
March 21, 2018
Over the weekend, China and Cambodia kicked off this year’s iteration of a new military exercise. The engagement was just another demonstration of the significance of the defense ties between the two sides and Cambodia’s greater drift towards China as the ruling party under Prime Minister HE looks to further consolidate its power in upcoming elections later this year..... etc..
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One notable thing is the disparity. In 2016, when these new pact was first signed. it was agreed there would be cross training, meaning that soldiers from Cambodia would go to China for training and visa versa. However, the number of Cambodian military in China for training each time is in the realm of 400 soldiers. Take a drive to SHV from PP past the army base and see the big flag of China flying in the breeze. This is where China's 5,000 soldiers are 'training'. Disparity?
A columnist in a US newspaper wrote about that Chinese military presence in Cambodia. (sorry, I can't immediately find it on line to reference for the moment). The author drew attention to a piece of international law that would suit the big man quite well. If Cambodia fell into destructive civil conflict where foreign investments are threatened, soldiers from that country are entitled in law to protect those investments. If that civil conflict involves threats to lives, then the foreign country's soldiers are permitted in law to use lethal force.

However, deployment of such foreign military force must be first approved by the standing government.

As the author suggested. the big man has a private army who would not be changing sides mid conflict unlike the Cambodian soldiers who might. The author was quite blunt suggesting this was in fact the purpose of the military exchange.