Cambodia recently announced plans to build an air defense station and expand a radar system at Ream National Park.
The proposed site is located near a Chinese-funded naval facility in the province of Sihanoukville.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, the government allocated 157 hectares of land to the Ministry of National Defense on September 15, 2022, to establish an “air defense command and general headquarters”. An additional 30 hectares were also allotted for a “naval radar system”. A spokesperson for the defense ministry has stated that there will be no Chinese financing, assistance, or presence at these installations.
The move to strengthen Cambodia’s military infrastructure comes amid concerns by the US government that the Ream naval base is being surreptitiously transformed into China’s second overseas military base and its first in the Indo-Pacific region. Experts have suggested that the upgrades would bolster Ream’s strategic significance for China and improve monitoring capabilities.
China and Cambodia have a long history of military cooperation and ties. Recently, the two countries conducted their first joint naval exercises in Cambodian waters. In a report released by the US Department of Defense in November 2022, Beijing is likely planning to build more military logistical centers in Cambodia and other nations to assist its naval, air, and ground forces.
Stephanie Arzate, a spokesperson for the US embassy, has urged Cambodia to carefully review the agreements made with Beijing by its defense officials. The report also notes that expanding Chinese military logistics facilities in Cambodia and elsewhere would involve concealing the true extent of China’s political and military interests in the region.
While Cambodia’s plans to improve its military infrastructure may be aimed at improving its defense capabilities, it is clear that the move is also being closely watched by the US and its allies. – Somalistandard and agencies
