US warship docks in Cambodia amid Chinese-funded naval base concerns

Since 2022, China has been funding the construction of the Ream marine center, some 30km from Sihanoukville, which was actually built primarily using US money.

Beijing may have a significant proper placement in the Gulf of Thailand, according to Washington, close to the disputed South China Sea, which China almost entirely claims.

The foundation is not intended for any use by any foreign power, according to Thai leaders, who have consistently refuted this claim.

Foreign vessels docked at the 363-meter wharf for the first time last year in December. In May, two of Beijing’s biggest joint military training with Cambodia included two berthed at Sihanoukville interface.

The Chinese military unveiled machine gun-equipped “robodogs” this year at the annual joint exercises, known as the” Golden Dragon” drills.

Related joint exercises with US troops that had been held for the previous seven years were abandoned in Cambodia in the first part of 2017.

Cambodia’s defence ministry said 27 US military vessels have visited the region since 2007, although the USS Savannah’s attend with 103 staff members was the first landing in eight years.

The boat’s senior officials will meet with the Ream facility’s commander.

Beijing responded to the US warship’s attend to Sihanoukville on Monday, saying that” for markets and collaborations in security and defense may help to promoting local peace and stability, rather than the opposite.”

In June, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a visit to Cambodia to rekindle diplomatic relations with the ardent supporter of China.

Cambodia’s foreign secretary Prak Sokhonn and the US ministry’s Bridgette Walker last month hailed the “reinvigoration” of defense ties between the two countries.