Two Chinese warships dock in Cambodia
The United States is concerned that China will use a naval base in Cambodia to expand its influence in the region.
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China's training ship, Qijiguang (right), and amphibious warfare ship Jinggangshan (left) are seen during a welcoming ceremony at the port of Sihanoukville, Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia, on May 19, 2024.
PHNOM PENH, SUNDAY — Two Chinese warships docked in the port city of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Sunday (19/5/2024). They are part of the largest joint military exercise that the two countries have ever held.
Cambodia has long been known as China's close ally in Southeast Asia. China invests billions of US dollars in the country. For this reason, the United States is worried that China will use the Cambodian Navy base to expand its influence in the region.
The joint military exercise on Sunday was attended by 760 Chinese military personnel who brought the Qijiguang training ship and the Jinggangshan amphibious warship. They will join around 1,300 soldiers and 11 Cambodian ships. The Qijiguang ship was seen with a banner that read "Bring peace and friendship to meet good friends" as it approached the port.
Also read: Cambodia and China Hold Largest Joint Military Exercises in 2024
"We are firm friends. The military cooperation between the two countries, China and Cambodia, is conducive to the security of both countries as well as the region," said Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian to journalists.
Chinese Navy personnel stand as the Qijiguang training ship prepares to dock at the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia on May 19, 2024 for joint military exercises.
The naval war exercises took place at the Ream Naval Base on May 24-27, 2024. The two newly arrived Chinese warships will join two Chinese corvettes that have been docked at the new pier in Ream Base for more than five months.
China is funding a large project around the base. The US is closely monitoring the development as they predict it will become a new outer point for the Chinese Navy in the Gulf of Thailand.
Where the Chinese Navy goes, we bring friendship, we bring cooperation, nothing else.
The Gulf of Thailand is located near the South China Sea, which is fully claimed by China. This gulf provides easy access to the Malacca Strait, one of the world's important shipping lanes. Washington said that Ream could give Beijing a strategic position in those waters.
Wang dismissed such views, saying "Wherever the Chinese Navy goes, we bring friendship, we bring cooperation, not anything else," in response to a question about concerns over Beijing's expanding influence.
The Chinese Navy personnel pulled the rope to dock the amphibious warship Jinggangshan during a welcoming ceremony at Sihanoukville port, Cambodia, on May 19, 2024, ahead of joint exercises.
The controversy over the Ream Sea Base first emerged in 2019. At that time, The Wall Street Journal newspaper reported that US officials read an initial draft of an agreement that would allow China to use the sea base for 30 years. There, they could place military personnel, store weapons and anchor warships.
The issue of air pollution is not new. The situation of the communities threatened by air pollution has been happening for a long time. Research evidence indicating the threats of air pollution's impacts is also abundant. However, these facts have not been able to drive significant efforts in controlling air pollution. Consequently, residents are increasingly suffering from living amidst air pollution. At that time, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, denied any such agreement. He mentioned that the Cambodian constitution prohibits the establishment of foreign military bases in the country, but welcomes ships visiting from all nations.
Land training
Before the sea exercise began, the two countries held exercises in the interior of Kompong Chhnang Province since May 16 with the code name "Naga Emas". The exercise is scheduled to continue until May 30.
The spokesperson for the Cambodian Armed Forces, Thong Solimo, said that the exercise focused on disaster response and anti-terrorism operations. "The land exercise involved 69 armored vehicles, intelligence data collection exercises, handling of explosives, destruction of explosives, and electronic communication. Meanwhile, the sea exercise involved 14 warships and two helicopters," he said.
Two Cambodian soldiers raised the flags of China and Cambodia at the start of the joint military exercise of Golden Dragon 2024 at the military police base in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia, on May 16, 2024.
This year's exercise is larger than the joint exercise in 2023 and involves a scenario of maneuvering exercises at sea. Cambodian Army Chief of Staff General Vong Pisen expressed gratitude to China for its support of equipment and various military base repairs in Cambodia, including the Ream Naval Base.
Vong, who spoke with Admiral Gao Xiucheng from the Chinese Navy's Southern Command, explained that China's contribution is assisting Cambodia in improving its military capacity. The joint exercise also strengthens the relationship and mutual trust between the two countries.
Also read: US Questions China's Construction of Military Bases in Cambodia
The joint training of Naga Emas began in 2016, coinciding with the cancellation of the joint military exercise between Cambodia and the United States, codenamed Angkor Sentinel. According to Solimo, the joint military exercise between Cambodia and China is not aimed at pressuring other countries in ASEAN. ASEAN member countries are also involved as observers in the joint exercise.
A Chinese soldier prepares a machine gun on top of a tank while a Cambodian soldier (on the right) stands guard during joint military exercises between China and Cambodia with the codename Golden Dragon 2024 starting in Kampong Chhnang, Cambodia on May 16, 2024.
Various parties, according to Solimo, can comment on anything regarding the exercises of these two countries. "The implementation of these exercises is in accordance with international norms. Cambodia is open to cooperating with any country. Cambodia also regularly conducts joint exercises with Vietnam and Laos," he said.
In addition, to this day, the Cambodian Army's Special Forces, Brigade 911, are still being trained and working together with the Indonesian Army's Special Forces Command (Kopassus). The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Defense, is also assisting in the preparation of the Special Forces Education Center in Kandal Province, near the capital Phnom Penh. (AP/AFP)
