China is secretly building a naval facility in Cambodia for the exclusive use of its military, with both countries denying that is the case and taking extraordinary measures to conceal the operation, Western officials said.

The military presence will be on the northern portion of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand, which is slated to be the site of a groundbreaking ceremony this week, according to the officials, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.

The establishment of a Chinese naval base in Cambodia — only its second such overseas outpost and its first in the strategically significant Indo-Pacific region — is part of Beijing’s strategy to build a network of military facilities around the world in support of its aspirations to become a true global power, the officials said.

PHNOM PENH, June 8 (Reuters) - A Chinese official said on Wednesday an "iron-clad partnership" with Cambodia was bolstered by military cooperation, as work began on a China-funded upgrade of Cambodia's biggest naval base that has raised U.S. concern about China's growing influence.

Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh dismissed fears that Cambodia would let China build a military base on its soil, saying any country could use the facilities at the Ream naval base, while Cambodia was open to accepting military assistance from anyone.

"As a strong pillar of the iron-clad partnership, China Cambodia military cooperation is in the fundamental interests of our two nations and two peoples," China's ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wentian, said in a speech at a ground-breaking ceremony at the base on the Gulf of Thailand.

The new port, near important shipping lanes and the contested South China Sea, will be deepened to allow larger military ships to dock, and will include a maintenance facility, drydock slipway and pier.

Chad Sexington wrote: ↑Thu Jun 09, 2022 12:35 pm

techietraveller84 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 09, 2022 9:47 am

Chad Sexington wrote: ↑Tue Jun 07, 2022 10:49 am

John Bingham wrote: ↑Tue Jun 07, 2022 10:18 am What a scary looking jetty and a terrifying empty lot. Prepare for total war.

Two guys in a canoe, armed with catapults, could overrun that base in minutes.

I think the worry is more about what could be stationed there. A Carrier would make it a bit more difficult.

What if they built a bunker under the golden lions roundabout, they could store and launch ICBM’s from it. Sounds ridiculous? no more ridiculous than the original thread stating “rapid construction at Ream Naval Base”
I’ve been past there plenty of times by boat, real close to the base (nodded to the handful of personnel onshore and aboard) and other than a half dozen Cambodian naval launches (think US coast guard cutter size) tied alongside, there’s nothing to indicate any such construction/expansion (rapid or otherwise)

The work at the Ream base involves construction of a dry dock, pier, and slipway rehabilitation to let the Cambodian Royal Navy make full use of the area.

According to the announced plan, China will assist with rehabilitation and renovation of some facilities at Ream, including construction of two new piers, a dry dock and a slipway, a hospital, and several other buildings.

China will also help the Royal Navy to repair some of its eight outdated ships in China and two floating docks of 600 tonnes and 700 tonnes capacity. How much the project will cost remains unclear.