Cambodia's Prime Minister opens newly expanded Chinese-developed Ream naval base

Record ID: 1988322

  • Title: Cambodia's Prime Minister opens newly expanded Chinese-developed Ream naval base
  • Date: 5th April 2025
  • Summary: CAMBODIAN PRIME MINISTER HUN MANET ARRIVING AT NAVY BASE, WALKING NEXT TO DEPUTY CHIEF OF THE JOINT STAFF DEPARTMENT OF CHINA'S CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION, CAO QINGFENG CAO NEXT TO HUN MANET AS RED CLOTH ON FLOOR IS PULLED BACK / FLAGS OF CAMBODIA AND CHINA ON BASE SIGN CAMBODIAN NAVY SAILORS STANDING FOR ARRIVAL OF HUN MANET AND CAO VARIOUS OF HUN MANET AND CAO STANDING
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Asia Cambodia China Gulf Hun Manet Phillippines Sea South Thailand Vietnam base defence military navy of opening
  • Location: SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA
  • City: SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA
  • Country: Cambodia
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Defence,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001441905042025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet on Saturday (April 5) officiated the re-opening of a naval base in the country’s coastal southwestern Sihanoukville province, in a ceremony attended by the country's Chinese ambassador and a member from China's Central Military Commission.
    The newly expanded Ream Naval Base is expected to accommodate larger ships and a dry dock for ship repairs.
    China and Cambodia began developing the base in June 2021, with a ground-breaking ceremony held one year later in 2022.
    Hun Manet said in a speech on Saturday that the Cambodian government did not, and will not, violate its constitution by allowing foreign countries to establish military bases in the country.
    “We have nothing to hide”, said Hun Manet who welcomed "all friends" to participate in joint military drills at the base.
    Washington has said the base could give Beijing a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety.
    Cambodia has long been one of China’s staunchest allies in Southeast Asia and Beijing has extended its influence over Phnom Penh in recent years.
    Under former leader Hun Sen – Prime Minister Hun Manet's father – China has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure investment, while Washington's relationship with Phnom Penh has deteriorated.
    (Production: Chantha Lach, Gabriel Goh)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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