Cambodia’s secret deal with China

China’s strategic ambitions in Southeast Asia have reached a new milestone with the establishment of a naval base in Ream, Cambodia.

For some time, both Cambodia and China consistently denied any plans for the permanent deployment of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships in Cambodia, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

However, recent developments have confirmed Western analysts' concerns that these denials were little more than a facade.

According to the Italian publication RID, the Chinese navy now officially operates a naval base at Ream, a strategic location in southern Cambodia with direct access to the Gulf of Thailand and, by extension, the South China Sea. This positioning provides the Chinese navy with a strategic foothold near key U.S. allies, such as the Philippines and Taiwan. RID reports that the facility is fully operational, with Cambodian officials justifying the Chinese presence as a "training base for Cambodian sailors and a test site for the new wharf."

China’s newly established naval base in Ream, Cambodia, significantly enhances its strategic positioning, particularly in the context of potential conflicts involving Taiwan and the United States. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, this base provides China with a crucial foothold in Southeast Asia, bolstering its ability to project power across the South China Sea and neighboring areas.

The base's location near vital maritime routes adds another layer of strategic importance. The South China Sea is a key artery for global trade, with a significant portion of the world’s shipping traffic passing through this corridor. By asserting control and influence over this region, China can either secure or disrupt these critical shipping routes, depending on its strategic needs.

In the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the Ream base could become a pivotal logistical and operational hub for Chinese naval forces. Its strategic position would facilitate the rapid deployment of assets and provide a key staging ground for military operations, thereby extending China's reach and operational capabilities in the region.

The Ream Naval Base not only enhances China’s strategic footprint in Southeast Asia but also serves as a direct counterbalance to the extensive U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. The United States maintains several key bases throughout the area, including in Japan, South Korea, and Guam. By establishing a base in Cambodia, China gains a strategic vantage point to monitor and potentially counter U.S. naval activities, thereby bolstering its own deterrence capabilities.

Furthermore, the Ream base amplifies China’s influence over Cambodia, which in turn extends its sway within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This burgeoning influence could translate into increased political and military leverage, reinforcing China's dominance in regional affairs.

The background of the Ream Naval Base’s transformation is marked by a notable geopolitical maneuver. In 2019, the U.S. offered financial assistance to renovate the Ream Naval Base, recognizing its strategic importance in the Gulf of Thailand. However, Cambodia declined this offer, citing a desire to uphold its national sovereignty and retain control over its military facilities.

Subsequently, it emerged that Cambodia had entered into a secret agreement with China. This deal allowed China to fund and execute the renovation of the base, a development that raised significant concerns in Washington and among other regional players. The clandestine agreement signaled a shift that could usher in a lasting Chinese military presence in Cambodia, prompting widespread apprehension about its implications for regional stability and security.