China to supply warships to Cambodia as scrutiny over Ream naval base heightens
Close defence ties between the two countries have prompted speculation China will benefit from exclusive use of the base it funded
China will provide two warships to Cambodia in the latest sign of the increasingly close relationship between their militaries that has caused concern in the United States.
Maly Socheata, a spokeswoman for Cambodia’s defence ministry, said the ships were being provided after Cambodia had requested Chinese support and could be delivered as early as next year.
“It is in the aim of strengthening the capacity and ability of Cambodia to protect and maintain peace, stability, security as well as for supporting search and rescue operations and other humanitarian activities,” she said.
“Cooperation has to comply with the goals and the principles of the Cambodian constitution, especially the protection of its sovereignty, integrity and independence.”
China’s use of the Ream naval base after it provided funding for its expansion has attracted attention in the US, which is worried that it may give Beijing easy access to the Malacca Strait, a critical shipping route between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
