China and Cambodia launched joint military exercises at the newly upgraded Ream Naval Base on Sunday, just one day after inaugurating the controversial facility in Sihanoukville.
The drills, which included formation maneuvers by warships from both nations, were broadcast on China Central Television (CCTV) and signal Beijing’s growing military footprint in the Gulf of Thailand.
The exercises come amid persistent U.S. concerns that the Chinese-funded expansion of Ream Naval Base could transform it into a permanent strategic outpost for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Cambodian officials have repeatedly denied allegations of a secret agreement to host Chinese forces, insisting the base remains open to vessels from all nations.
China’s Strategic Upgrade to Allow for Larger Naval Presence
The $1 billion renovation of Ream Naval Base, completed in June 2024 after two years of construction, now features a deep-water pier capable of accommodating aircraft carriers and other large PLA vessels. This infrastructure upgrade follows Cambodia’s controversial 2020 demolition of a U.S.-built facility at the same location, after Phnom Penh rejected Washington’s offer to modernize the base.
Chinese military analysts quoted in the Global Times suggest these drills represent just the beginning of expanded cooperation, with future exercises likely to incorporate land and air forces. The state-run outlet framed the partnership as crucial for maintaining “peace and stability in the South China Sea” – a region where China has increasingly assertive territorial claims.
US-China Rivalry Intensifies in Southeast Asia
The Ream Naval Base development has become a flashpoint in the broader U.S.-China competition for influence in Southeast Asia. Satellite imagery analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reveals the base now includes specialized dry docks and storage facilities consistent with PLA Navy requirements.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet personally oversaw Saturday’s inauguration ceremony alongside senior PLA officials, underscoring the project’s geopolitical significance. While Phnom Penh maintains the upgrades serve Cambodia’s defense needs, regional analysts note the base’s strategic position could allow China to project power toward the contested Spratly Islands and critical Malacca Strait shipping lanes.
Cambodia’s Reaction Amid Great Power Tensions
The Cambodian government is walking a delicate diplomatic tightrope, with Hun Manet insisting the nation won’t “choose sides” between Washington and Beijing. However, the Ream expansion follows a pattern of deepening Cambodia-China military ties, including a 2023 agreement for annual “Golden Dragon” joint exercises and Chinese funding for Cambodia’s defense ministry headquarters.
As it stands, U.S. officials are still monitoring the situation closely, with Pentagon reports suggesting Ream could eventually join China’s network of overseas military facilities that already includes Djibouti and potential sites in Africa and the Pacific.
