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 have been already there, some solely 4 years previous.

Then the Chinese language started working.

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

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

“The potential for a everlasting Chinese language navy presence in Cambodia raises vital geopolitical considerations,” mentioned Sophal Ear, a Cambodian-American political scientist on the Thunderbird Faculty 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 have been visiting Ream for a joint navy train. Satellite tv for pc pictures 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 have been denied full entry.

“We’re clear eyed concerning the Folks’s Republic of China’s efforts to ascertain abroad navy bases, together with at Ream,” mentioned John Supple, a Pentagon spokesman. “We’re notably involved concerning the Folks’s Republic of China’s lack of transparency round its intentions and the phrases it negotiates, as a result of international locations must be free to make sovereign decisions that help 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 instructed 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, instructed The New York Instances. “It isn’t proper to say that the bottom is managed by China.”

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

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 challenge Beijing’s may removed from China’s shores.

In the present day, China boasts the world’s largest navy by way of the variety of vessels. And it has added plane carriers to its fleet.

However navies of this measurement and scope, working hundreds of miles from house, 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 challenge in disputed waters within the South China Sea.

Churning up coral and sand from the ocean flooring, state-owned dredgers created navy installations on what had as soon as been placid atolls known as the Spratlys. A world tribunal has dominated that these specks of land will not be Chinese language territory.

The identical type 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 meant 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 seems to be for ports for the blue water navy that Xi Jinping needs,” mentioned Gregory B. Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative on the Heart for Strategic and Worldwide Research. “I don’t assume any Chinese language planner checked out all of the potential areas world wide and mentioned, ‘Ream is the one we want.’ It’s extra that Ream is without doubt one of the solely ones on provide as a result of China has no actual allies and few associates.”

Industrial Beachheads

Even because the dredgers have 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 — have been for navy functions. Chinese language officers mentioned they might be havens for tourism.

China’s base constructing has relied on state-owned corporations, 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 international locations the place China already holds financial sway.

In recent times, Cambodia has steadily marched into China’s arms. Its longtime chief, Hun Sen, used to excoriate the US for linking its assist and funding to enhancements within the nation’s human rights file.

Now, Cambodia is led by Mr. Hun Sen’s son, Hun Manet, who, though a graduate of the US Army 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. Army analysts anticipate that the bottom shall 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 meant for Chinese language holiday-goers.

That’s harking back to the harmless explanations provided for the Chinese language building within the Spratlys and Djibouti, mentioned Mr. Ear, the political scientist.

“China downplays or misrepresents the navy nature of its abroad installations,” he mentioned. “Regardless of Cambodia’s denials, the shortage of transparency and the shut relationship between Cambodia and China recommend the likelihood that Ream may comply with this acquainted playbook.”