Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh denied the allegations, stressing during the ceremony that the project was in line with Cambodia’s constitution, which bans foreign military bases in its territory, and that the nation of Southeast Asia is open. in development assistance from other countries. “We need to upgrade our base to protect our nation, our territory and our sovereignty,” Tea Banh said, describing the project as a “modernization” involving construction and renovation work on docks, piers and slippery slopes. public administration. Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) news agency. The upgrade of the base “is not aimed at any third party and will contribute to even closer practical cooperation between the two troops,” Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian said during the renovation. “As a strong pillar of the iron partnership, China-Cambodia military cooperation is in the fundamental interests of both nations and our two peoples,” he said, according to the AKP. China’s role in the Ream Naval Base, strategically located near the southern tip of Cambodia off the South China Sea, has attracted Washington control in recent years as it watches for signs that Beijing is expanding its military footprint. Deputy Foreign Minister Wendy Sherman reiterated US concerns about China’s “military presence and construction” base at a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn last month, according to the Foreign Ministry. USA. Both Phnom Penh and Beijing – which have strengthened economic and diplomatic ties in recent years – have been pushed back by such concerns, rejecting this week a report that China is building its own naval facility at the Ream Naval Base. The denials came after the Washington Post reported Monday, citing unnamed Western officials that China was secretly building a naval facility north of the base for the exclusive use of its military. At a news conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian described the allegations as “a typical act of intimidation” by the United States. “The United States is deaf to Cambodia, repeatedly making malicious speculations, attacking and smearing Cambodia, even threatening and pressuring Cambodia,” Zao said. Prak Sokhonn also denied “baseless allegations” in a telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday, according to the AKP. He added that the renovation of the base served “exclusively to strengthen the country’s naval capabilities to protect its maritime integrity and fight crime.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the report as “worrying” during a visit to Indonesia on Tuesday. “We have known Beijing’s activity in Ream for some time and we encourage Beijing to be transparent about its intention and to ensure that its activities support regional security and stability,” he told reporters, adding that the Cambodian government he consistently assured Canberra that no foreign army would have exclusive access to the Ream base. China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea in recent years, as well as its growing navy and dynamic foreign policy, have raised concerns among Western leaders that Beijing may seek to turn security and other agreements with foreign governments into an overseas military presence. At present, the Chinese army has only one base abroad, in Djibouti. Beijing insists its international co-operation is aimed at common development, but has also condemned Washington’s global network of military bases. An article in the state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times on Thursday said the “repeated rumor” about a Chinese naval base in Cambodia had been repeatedly dashed. But he added that “if one day, out of the need to protect national interests and take on international responsibilities and obligations, China decides to build new supply bases abroad, it will be over.” “The United States has no right to point the finger and interfere in legal and mutually beneficial cooperation between other countries,” the main article said. Additional reports from CNN’s Beijing office, Martin Goillandeau and Hannah Ritchie.
