Breaking down Cambodia’s naval base controversy

China is playing a leading role in developing the facility but Phnom Penh is well aware of the base’s geopolitical sensitivities.

Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base — a facility in the Gulf of Thailand — has in recent years been the subject of interest from major powers competing for influence in Southeast Asia.

China’s efforts to access the base first surfaced in July 2019 after the Wall Street Journal reported an alleged agreement allowing the Chinese military to use the base. The Cambodian government facilitated a visit to the naval base for 70 local and foreign journalists to counter the findings of the report.

Despite Cambodia’s efforts to dispel allegations of a Chinese military presence at the Ream Naval Base, suspicions continued to mount.

In full: https://asiatimes.com/2022/09/breaking-down-cambodias-naval-base-controversy/

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