CNN
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Officials from China and Cambodia broke floor on a controversial, Chinese-funded improve of a naval base in southern Cambodia on Wednesday, with Beijing’s envoy within the nation calling navy cooperation a part of the international locations’ “iron-clad partnership.”
The launch of the mission on the Ream Naval Base, which Cambodian officers mentioned will use grant assist from China to renovate the port, comes amid Western concern that Beijing is looking for a navy outpost on the Gulf of Thailand facility.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh dismissed such claims, stressing through the ceremony that the mission is in keeping with Cambodia’s structure, which bars international navy bases on its territory, and that the Southeast Asian nation is open to growth help from different international locations.
“We need to upgrade our base to protect our nation, territory and sovereignty,” Tea Banh mentioned, describing the mission as a “modernization” that features development and renovation work on a dry dock, pier, and slipway, in accordance with state-run information company Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP).
Upgrading the bottom is “not targeted at any third party, and will be conducive to even closer practical cooperation between the two militaries,” Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian mentioned on the groundbreaking.
“As a strong pillar of the iron-clad partnership, China-Cambodia military cooperation is in the fundamental interests of our two nations and two peoples,” he mentioned, as quoted by AKP.
China’s position on the Ream Naval Base, which occupies a strategic place close to the southern tip of Cambodia near the South China Sea, has drawn scrutiny from Washington lately, because it screens for indicators of Beijing increasing its navy footprint.
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman reiterated US considerations about China’s “military presence and construction of facilities” on the base in a gathering with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn final month, in accordance with the US State Department.
Both Phnom Penh and Beijing – which have bolstered financial and diplomatic ties lately – have pushed again strongly over such considerations, this week dismissing a report that China is constructing its personal naval facility on the Ream Naval Base.
The denials got here after The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing unnamed Western officers, that China is secretly constructing a naval facility on the northern portion of the bottom for the unique use of its navy.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Zhao Lijian known as the allegations “a typical bullying act” from the United States.
“The US has turned a deaf ear to Cambodia’s position, repeatedly making malicious speculations, attacking and smearing Cambodia, and even threatening and pressuring Cambodia,” Zhao mentioned.
Prak Sokhonn additionally dismissed “groundless accusations” in a telephone name with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday, in accordance with AKP.
He added that the renovation of the bottom served “solely to strengthen the country’s naval capacities to protect its maritime integrity and combat crimes.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese known as the report “concerning” throughout a go to to Indonesia on Tuesday.
“We’ve been aware of Beijing’s activity at Ream for some time, and we encourage Beijing to be transparent about its intent and to ensure that its activities support regional security and stability,” he advised reporters, including that the Cambodian authorities had “consistently assured” Canberra that no international navy could be given unique entry on the Ream base.
China’s aggressive habits within the South China Sea lately, in addition to its rising navy and assertive international coverage, has raised considerations from Western leaders that Beijing could search to parlay safety and different offers with international governments into an abroad navy presence.
Currently, China’s navy has just one abroad base, in Djibouti.
Beijing insists its worldwide partnerships purpose for widespread growth, however it has additionally lambasted Washington’s international community of navy bases.
An editorial within the state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times on Thursday mentioned the “recurring rumor” of a Chinese naval base in Cambodia has been repeatedly debunked.
But it added that “if one day, out of the need to safeguard national interests and assume international responsibilities and obligations, China decides to build new overseas supply bases, it will be aboveboard.”
“The US has no right to point fingers and interfere in the legitimate and mutually beneficial cooperation between other countries,” the editorial mentioned.