How China Rebuilt a Cambodian Naval Base

In 2020, one thing curious occurred at Cambodia’s Ream navy base, on the Gulf of Thailand.

Not lengthy after submitting — after which abruptly withdrawing — a request for the U.S. Protection Division to refurbish components of the bottom, Cambodian officers proceeded to demolish the American-funded buildings that had been already there, some solely 4 years previous.

Then the Chinese language started working.

Since December, two Chinese language warships have docked practically each day on the quickly increasing port. And the work going down at Ream is in line with a Chinese language constructing spree that ranges from close to the Pink Sea to the South China Sea.

The Chinese language navy presence close to one of many world’s most important sea lanes raises basic questions on Beijing’s ambitions. Whereas the American constellation of navy bases stays by far the biggest on this planet, a resurgent China is bringing nations like Cambodia into its orbit.

“The potential for a everlasting Chinese language navy presence in Cambodia raises important geopolitical considerations,” stated Sophal Ear, a Cambodian-American political scientist on the Thunderbird College of World Administration at Arizona State College. “It may immediate strategic changes from the U.S. and heighten international perceptions of Chinese language militarization.”

The Lengthy Go to

On Dec. 3, 2023, Cambodia’s protection minister introduced that two Chinese language Navy corvettes had been visiting Ream for a joint navy train. Satellite tv for pc photos present that the warships had arrived two days earlier. They’ve stayed within the neighborhood ever since.

The corvettes are the one ships which have docked on the new Chinese language-built pier at Ream, which might accommodate ships far bigger than any in Cambodia’s fleet. Cambodia’s personal smaller corvettes dock at a way more modest pier to the south.

Over the previous few years, American officers and Japanese naval vessels have additionally tried to go to Ream. They had been denied full entry.

“We’re clear eyed concerning the Individuals’s Republic of China’s efforts to ascertain abroad navy bases, together with at Ream,” stated John Supple, a Pentagon spokesman. “We’re significantly involved concerning the Individuals’s Republic of China’s lack of transparency round its intentions and the phrases it negotiates, as a result of nations must be free to make sovereign decisions that assist their pursuits and regional safety.”

The Cambodians deny any higher Chinese language intent.

When Lloyd J. Austin III, the U.S. secretary of protection, traveled to Cambodia in early June, he was advised by his counterparts there that China was merely serving to Cambodia modernize its navy, not constructing a base for itself.

“The Ream navy base is Cambodia’s, not the navy base of any nation,” Mey Dina, the commander of the bottom, advised The New York Instances. “It’s not proper to say that the bottom is managed by China.”

Whereas the development at Ream continues to be underway, no international vessels will probably be allowed to dock there, Mr. Mey Dina stated. The international vessels which have been docked there for greater than half a yr — the Chinese language corvettes — had been for “coaching solely,” he stated.

Energy Projection

China’s chief, Xi Jinping, has articulated a grand imaginative and prescient for his rising superpower. Chief amongst his navy targets: a blue-water navy that may mission Beijing’s may removed from China’s shores.

As we speak, China boasts the world’s largest navy when it comes to the variety of vessels. And it has added aircraft carriers to its fleet.

However navies of this dimension and scope, working hundreds of miles from residence, want entry to bases overseas.

In 2017, after years of evasiveness about what was being constructed, China accomplished its first base on international soil, in Djibouti, within the Horn of Africa.

That very same yr, China put ending touches on a much more startling mission in disputed waters within the South China Sea.

Churning up coral and sand from the ocean flooring, state-owned dredgers created military installations on what had as soon as been placid atolls referred to as the Spratlys. A global tribunal has dominated that these specks of land aren’t Chinese language territory.

The identical form of state-owned dredgers are actually working in Ream. Out of reclaimed land, they’ve created a wharf and dry dock, every of which far surpasses the wants of the Cambodian fleet.

Nonetheless, not like the installations on the Spratlys, Ream doesn’t seem to have constructing websites reserved for missile launchers or fighter jet hangars. Ream could also be primarily supposed as a resupply station for the Chinese language navy, in keeping with satellite tv for pc analysts.

“Ream is extra like China enjoying roulette because it appears for ports for the blue water navy that Xi Jinping needs,” stated Gregory B. Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research. “I don’t suppose any Chinese language planner checked out all of the attainable places world wide and stated, ‘Ream is the one we’d like.’ It’s extra that Ream is likely one of the solely ones on provide as a result of China has no actual allies and few pals.”

Business Beachheads

Even because the dredgers had been working extra time on the Spratlys, Mr. Xi stood on the White Home and swatted away fears that China’s new islands — which now bristle with fighter jet-ready runways, radar domes and warehouses made for missiles — had been for navy functions. Chinese language officers stated they’d be havens for tourism.

China’s base constructing has trusted state-owned firms, that are legally obligated to pursue the nation’s nationwide safety pursuits, to make the preliminary forays. Chinese language officers are blunt concerning the technique: “First civilian, then navy,” is how they put it.

Establishing a business beachhead is simpler in nations the place China already holds financial sway.

Lately, Cambodia has steadily marched into China’s arms. Its longtime chief, Hun Sen, used to excoriate america for linking its support and funding to enhancements within the nation’s human rights document.

Now, Cambodia is led by Mr. Hun Sen’s son, Hun Manet, who, though a graduate of america Navy Academy, has proven little inclination to this point to recalibrate from his father’s pro-China bent.

Ream is 80 p.c completed, in keeping with its commander, Mr. Mey Dina. Navy analysts count on that the bottom will probably be full by the top of the yr.

Not far-off, a Chinese language firm has carved out of once-protected jungle a runway lengthy sufficient to accommodate bombers, which Cambodia doesn’t have. The corporate says the airfield is essentially supposed for Chinese language holiday-goers.

That’s paying homage to the harmless explanations provided for the Chinese language building within the Spratlys and Djibouti, stated Mr. Ear, the political scientist.

“China downplays or misrepresents the navy nature of its abroad installations,” he stated. “Regardless of Cambodia’s denials, the shortage of transparency and the shut relationship between Cambodia and China counsel the chance that Ream may observe this acquainted playbook.”