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Cambodia
AsiaSoutheast Asia

US presses Cambodia over its ‘larger plans’ to host Chinese military

  • Cambodia abruptly turned down a US offer to help repair a naval base, fuelling speculation that China could be about to move in
  • China currently operates one overseas military base, in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, and has repeatedly rejected speculation that it plans to open more

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Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: Kyodo
Reuters
The US Defence Department has asked Cambodia to explain why it suddenly turned down an offer to repair a naval base, saying the decision had raised speculation of possible plans for hosting China’s military.
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A letter to the Cambodian defence minister reflects concern in Washington about the Chinese military presence in Southeast Asia, where Beijing is being increasingly assertive over its contested claims in the South China Sea.

The letter from Joseph Felter, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia, asked for more information on the decision to decline help to repair a training facility and boat depot at Ream Naval Base.

“The notification letter of [June 6] has been seen throughout the US government and is fuelling speculation that this sudden change of policy could indicate larger plans for changes at Ream Naval Base, particularly ones that involve hosting Chinese military assets,” said the letter. It gave no details of any such plans.

The US Department of Defence and Army attaché in Phnom Penh, Michael Stelzig, confirmed that the letter to General Tea Banh had been delivered on June 24. The US embassy had no further comment.

A spokesman for Cambodia’s defence ministry said the US money had not been declined, but that Cambodia wanted it spent elsewhere.

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