Is Cambodia’s Koh Kong project for Chinese tourists – or China’s military?

A tourism development by the Chinese firm Union Development Group looks too good to be true
Sceptics say it is – and that its suspiciously long airport runway and deep water port will give China a military foothold in the country
Andrew Nachemson
Updated: Tuesday, 5 Mar, 2019 10:03am

A satellite image of the suspiciously long runway at the airport in Koh Kong. Photo: Handout

It’s only natural that Beijing might show an interest in a tourism development that aims to lure big-spending Chinese tourists to the shores of Cambodia with the promise of casinos, golf courses and luxury resorts.

After all, Cambodia granted 45,000 hectares of its prime real estate in Koh Kong province – and 20 per cent of its coastline – to private Chinese company Union Development Group, just so it could build this supposed tourism Mecca, and all for a peppercorn rent that will start at just US$1 million per year.

At least, that’s the official version. But sceptics who say the terms of this deal are too good to be true think there’s another reason for China’s interest: they believe the development is as much about welcoming the Chinese military as it is about Chinese tourists.

Such scepticism has grown louder recently, with the release of satellite images from the European Space Agency showing that the runway for the site’s airport is far longer than is required for civilian aircraft.
‘They only go to Chinese shops’: why Cambodia’s influx of mainland tourists is causing tensions

Cambodian officials have already been at pains to deny that the project’s deep water port could serve Chinese military interests, so questions over the runway have only fuelled claims that the development serves a dual purpose.

“The runway is about 3,400 meters long, which is larger than the international airport in Phnom Penh and could accommodate any plane in the Chinese air force,” said Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“It is also in a rather secluded location for such a large airport if it were for civilian purposes. The only thing nearby would be the Koh Kong casino/resort project, which as I understand it hasn’t seen much success so far,” Poling said. Reports says construction work at the Koh Kong project has been stalled for months.
Full article: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/geopolit ... s-military

Minister Defends Chinese Development in Koh Kong, Seeks Stronger US Ties
05 April 2019
NEW YORK — Defense Minister Tea Banh has dismissed concerns that a Chinese development project in Koh Kong province could be used for military purposes, and reiterated Cambodia’s commitment to keeping its territory from being used to host a foreign military base.

Banh, who visited the United States last week, said the development project by Chinese-owned Union Development Group (UDG) in Koh Kong was to serve as an eco-tourism and recreation site only.

“Cambodia doesn’t have anything to hide on the Union Development Group,” Banh told VOA Khmer in an exclusive interview in New York on Friday. “It’s a Chinese private company that has received a land concession for tourism development. They’ve planned to invest billions of dollars for the development if the project goes well, which includes an airport and seaport.”

The UDG acquired 45,000 hectares of land, including 20 percent of Cambodia’s coastline, in Botum Sakor and Kiri Sakor districts of Koh Kong province to develop a project that includes hospitals, condominiums, resorts, hotels, factories, an international airport, and a deep sea port. The company has said it will invest $3.8 billion, according to media reports.

Media reports have suggested that the international airport has a 3,400-meter-long airfield, which has raised concerns that it may be used for future military operations. It is scheduled to begin partial operations by the end of 2020.
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/minister- ... 62035.html

It's a real life game of Civ playing out before our eyes. The Indians looking at the Chinese preparing air and naval bases in Cambodia, sweating and reworking their military strategies.
China v Russia v India. Who will rule after WW3? Not us. Too many femtard pink-haired soy boys will ensure our certain defeat, but that's all part of the commie long game.

This is not ghost. This is not khmer grandiose dreams. This is the new Chinese empire. Welcome to the different planet you are already living in but haven't quite woken up to. Good morning..

This international / military (?) airport being built is actually closer to Sihanoukville than Koh Kong city.

Does anyone know whether the airport will have an exclusion zone around it like the new Chinese bases in the Spratly islands ?

A 12 mile exclusion zone would cover nearly all off Koh Rong island, would this affect tourism by any chance ?

Best idea for tourists is to enjoy the Cambodia coast whilst you still can, as everything in changing.

Whoa whoa, steady up a bit. All the military stuff is just supposition and a bit premature at this point.

For a start look at who is expressing these concerns -
- VOA. (enough said.)
- Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
(enough said)

Now look at what this fool Gregory Poling said;
“The runway is about 3,400 meters long, which is larger than the international airport in Phnom Penh and could accommodate any plane in the Chinese air force,” said Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

“It is also in a rather secluded location for such a large airport if it were for civilian purposes. The only thing nearby would be the Koh Kong casino/resort project, which as I understand it hasn’t seen much success so far,” Poling said. Reports says construction work at the Koh Kong project has been stalled for months.

1/ Phnom Penh runway is 3000 metres
Sydney main runway is 4000 metres
**so 3400 metres is not "larger than necessary" for a civilian airport.

2/ "a rather secluded location for such a large airport if it were for civilian purposes. The only thing nearby would be the Koh Kong casino/resort project"
**This guy should be sacked from his spook job immediately. He must have been looking at google earth ten years ago. It is now the site of a multi billion dollar tourist development.

3/ YES China wants a deep water military port in the Gulf. BUT - Deep water military port is only viable if there is a heavy gage railway connection to China.
And that has only ever been dreamsville stuff. They have been facing that cold hard $$$$ reality for decades. It just does't stack up (yet)

4/ Small reality also. This is not deep water area - massive massive dredging needed.

Not to say military bases will not come in the future, but we can take off our military tinfoil hats for now.

First we gotta face up to the actual immediate reality - 10 million chinese tourists per year onto our coast. That is NOT dreamsville. It is next year, or two.

I just think its interesting how the Chinese go about there military expansion in a relatively peaceful manner. They now have military bases in the Spratly Islands, the country of Djibouti located at the Horn of Africa (and probably many others). and soon to be a military base in Cambodia.

May I answer the points you have mentioned in your last message -

1. "So 3400 metres is not "larger than necessary" for a civilian airport."
It is very unusual to have an airport 3400 meters in length in the middle of no where. - Please see image above

2. "It is now the site of a multi billion dollar tourist development. "
I repeat again this airport is in the middle of no where . to travel to Koh Kong city or Sihanoukville would take at least 2 hours.
Plus check out any travel website and you will find no hotels in this area.

3. "YES China wants a deep water military port in the Gulf. BUT - Deep water military port is only viable if there is a heavy gage railway connection to China."
China wants to military bases throughout the world. There are no rail links to Beijing from the Spratly Island or Djibouti, so I don't understand what you are saying.

4. "Small reality also. This is not deep water area - massive massive dredging needed "
Yes you correct it is not a deep water port yet, however it will soon be a military (?) runway.

Mostcurious wrote:I just think its interesting how the Chinese go about there military expansion in a relatively peaceful manner. They now have military bases in the Spratly Islands, the country of Djibouti located at the Horn of Africa (and probably many others). and soon to be a military base in Cambodia

It’s only peaceful because they do everything against international law and the world just sits there, wrings its hands, and allows it to happen. So afraid of being labeled racist, the UN sits feckless over blatant aggression. Would rather pass useless declarations such as terrorist bombings as legitimate acts of protest.

Remember Neville Chamberlain? He declared ‘peace in our time’ as the justification for selling out the Czechs to Hitler.

I hope the coming war will not happen during my or my children’s time.

1. "So 3400 metres is not "larger than necessary" for a civilian airport."
It is very unusual to have an airport 3400 meters in length in the middle of no where. - Please see image above

It is in fact theee perfect short drive from the multi billion dollar China's Union Development Group project. I have been there.

2. "It is now the site of a multi billion dollar tourist development. "
I repeat again this airport is in the middle of no where . to travel to Koh Kong city or Sihanoukville would take at least 2 hours.
Plus check out any travel website and you will find no hotels in this area.

See above.

3. "YES China wants a deep water military port in the Gulf. BUT - Deep water military port is only viable if there is a heavy gage railway connection to China."
China wants to military bases throughout the world. There are no rail links to Beijing from the Spratly Island or Djibouti, so I don't understand what you are saying.

The main strategic reason for a Gulf of Thailand deep water port for the chinese would be to service military bases and operations in the Indian ocean, combined with its commercial imperialism. This was widely accepted by all informed observers when the chinese were seriously planning the railway 10-15 years ago. Including the chinese themselves. And the conclusions were that it was simply not viable.

4. "Small reality also. This is not deep water area - massive massive dredging needed "
Yes you correct it is not a deep water port yet, however it will soon be a military (?) runway.

Well that is up to everybody to make their own informed, sober assessment. This is mine - that's all.
Without the railway there are much more suitable sites.

And I am certainly sceptical when US spooks start spouting about "no tourists to be seen here".
(that is exactly why the yanks got their arse thrashed in Vietnam Laos and Cambodia by people wearing Ho Chi Minh sandals - bad bad bad intelligence, chasing shadows, and wilfully choosing to be ignorant to what actually was going on in real-life-reality)

To the other poster "not in my childrens name"
(Racist UN !!!???)
Seriously - what is your plan for containing the chinese? I will be the first to sign up if it is realistic.

I don't want a rant, or an argument. Do you want to be sensible?

Sorry, to be clear on exactly what my concerns and viewpoint are. I did not really explain in prev posts.

^ My assessment is that the military aspect is a beat up, certainly premature. The evidence/interpretation presented by those promoting the military explanation is demonstrably wrong for a start.
^ I have a belief that China will effectively take over half the planet without a shot being fired.
^ They will do it strategically, with economic power and smarts. This is already well underway in both the East and in the West.
^ This is what we should be focussing on. Right now!! Not chasing shadows.
^ It needs an informed strategic response using the same level of "smarts" as the chinese employ.

Maybe that will ease your worry that I am appeasing.