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Chinese warships have ‘exclusive’ access at Cambodia port: US report
- Two PLA Navy ships are only vessels to have docked at Chinese-financed Ream naval base since upgrades last year, US intelligence report
- Phnom Penh has denied deal to grant permanent Chinese military presence at port that was said to be open to all navies
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New questions have been raised about China’s military presence at a Cambodian naval base, after a US think tank reported on Thursday that two Chinese navy ships have spent more than four months at the port.
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According to satellite image analysis by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), two Chinese corvettes have had a “consistent presence” at the China-funded Ream naval base in southern Cambodia since December 3.
The two ships from the PLA Navy – the only two vessels to have visited the pier since it went into operation – were docked at the facility 93 per cent of the time since they first arrived at the port, or 85 out of 91 days, according to AMTI, which cited data from available clear satellite imagery.
The pier was only vacant for two brief periods from January 15-18, and March 29-30, the report said.
“Satellite imagery also showed no other ships, including any Cambodian vessels, docking at the new pier, which was completed last year to enable larger warships to dock in Ream’s shallow waters,” the AMTI report said.
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“While previous language from then prime minister Hun Sen had claimed that the base’s upgraded facilities would be open to visits from all navies … Cambodian boats at Ream have continued to cluster at the base’s older, smaller pier to the south.”
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