Officials break ground on the Ream Naval Base project, which has sparked fears of a Chinese military presence in the Gulf of Thailand.
In a move that has raised alarms in Washington, Chinese and Cambodian officials broke ground on Wednesday for the expansion of the Ream Naval Base, despite U.S. concerns over its potential to host a Chinese military outpost. Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian, and other officials marked the beginning of the project, which will include key upgrades such as a dry dock for ship repairs, an extended pier, a hospital, a workshop, and a “reception building.”
While Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has denied that China will establish a military base at Ream, reports from 2019 indicated that he had granted China permission to do so, despite Cambodia’s Constitution prohibiting foreign military bases. The ongoing dredging of the port is set to accommodate larger ships, with Tea Banh reassuring that the base will only support ships with a displacement of up to 5,000 tons, a significant upgrade from the current 1,000 tons but still insufficient for most naval vessels.
As the project progresses, the U.S. remains wary, viewing the expansion as part of China’s broader ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region. However, Cambodia insists the improvements are part of a modernization effort for civilian purposes.