9EC3C40A-94F9-4154-A589-146E01BE6826_w1023_r1_s — FILE: A journalist looks out from a bus over a jetty mooring patrol boat during a rare media tour at Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province, Friday, July 26, 2019. (Sophat Soeung/VOA Khmer)

U.S. Military Attaché Visits Controversial Ream Naval Base

The U.S. has consistently raised concerns over the possible stationing of Chinese military and naval assets at Ream, following a news report from the Wall Street Journal that the Chinese and Cambodian governments had reached a “secret deal” to give the former access to the base.

January 15, 2020

by VOA Cambodia

A United States military envoy in Cambodia visited Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province on Monday, a base that is surrounded in controversy for plans to allegedly install Chinese military and naval assets.

U.S. Defense Attaché Colonel Marcus Ferrara, who is stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, visited Ream Naval Base on January 13 to “pay a courtesy call and have a working discussion” with Royal Cambodian Navy’s Deputy Commander Vice Admiral Ouk Seyha, according to a Facebook page run by the base’s administration.

Reached on Monday, Vice Admiral Ouk Seyha, who also concurrently commands the base, only confirmed that he met with Colonel Marcus Ferrara, declining to comment further.

In full: https://www.voacambodia.com/a/u-s-military-attach%C3%A9-visits-controversial-ream-naval-base-/5244726.html

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