Chinese Establish Presence at Cambodian Naval Base

Satellite imagery and recent construction activities suggest that Ream Naval Base in Cambodia has strategic value for Beijing, as two Chinese navy ships have spent over four months docked at a new pier built with Chinese funding. This is the first instance of China docking its vessels at this base, according to a report by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI).

The prolonged presence of these warships has intensified concerns, particularly from the United States, about an alleged secret agreement between Beijing and Phnom Penh to establish a permanent Chinese military installation at Ream. Both parties have consistently denied such claims. However, this recent development raises questions about whether such an arrangement might already be in place.

According to AMTI's analysis of commercial satellite images, People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels never left Ream after their initial arrival on December 3 last year and maintained a consistent presence for more than four months. The images also showed no other ships, including Cambodian ones, docking at this new pier designed specifically to accommodate larger warships in Ream's shallow waters.

This finding defies earlier claims from Radio Free Asia that the PLAN ships had left the base before Nikkei's March images showed them again.

Interestingly, though former Prime Minister Hun Sen assured that all navies would be allowed access to upgraded facilities, Japanese destroyers visiting in February were directed elsewhere rather than docking at Ream, indicating exclusivity towards Chinese vessels.

Recent construction within the naval base further underscores its increasing significance for China. Satellite imagery shows several infrastructural upgrades nearing completion, which include warehouses, administrative complexes, and living quarters, along with expanded capacity docks capable of servicing large-scale maintenance operations on bigger vessels.

Particularly, the demolition of areas that once housed US and Australian-funded facilities to make way for concrete pavements suggests a change in plans, and the erection of fencing and watchtowers around northeastern borders suggests the implementation of increased security measures.

China has cleared an area spanning over 60 acres in the southwest, previously covered with vegetation, for new construction. This indicates that China is investing not only in existing infrastructure but also expanding into unused areas of Ream.

The report concluded by saying that at some point, the two PLAN corvettes currently docked will leave. However, their replacement by other Chinese ships, duration of stay, and whether similar opportunities are provided to other navies will be indicative of the real nature of Sino-Cambodian naval relations at Ream.

Thus, recent construction activities and satellite imagery analysis point to a deepening strategic relationship between Beijing and Phnom Penh, transforming Ream Naval Base into a significant outpost for China's navy.