Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet officially inaugurated the newly renovated Ream Naval Base on Saturday, asserting that Cambodia has “nothing to hide” amid growing scrutiny from the United States over China’s involvement in the base’s redevelopment.
Located on Cambodia’s southern coast near the Gulf of Thailand, the Ream Naval Base has undergone extensive refurbishment with Chinese support since 2022. While Cambodian officials emphasize that the base remains open to international partners, US officials have raised alarms that Beijing may gain exclusive access, potentially tipping the regional military balance near the contested South China Sea.
A Symbol of Strategic Shifts
The opening ceremony was attended by military representatives from multiple countries, including a delegation from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Chinese Rear Admiral Cao Qingfeng hailed the facility as a “symbol of the iron-clad friendship” between the two nations, emphasizing its role in fostering regional peace and cooperation.
The base will host upcoming joint exercises, including the Golden Dragon 2025 drills in May—an annual Cambodia-China military initiative involving hundreds of troops, tanks, and naval assets.
Cambodia’s Assurances
Hun Manet, addressing concerns during the ceremony, reiterated that the facility is not exclusive to any single country and is open to “all friends” for joint training and maritime cooperation.
“From today, Cambodia will welcome all friends to hold joint exercises at Ream. We have nothing to hide,” he stated.
Despite these assurances, the base has been a flashpoint of geopolitical tension since 2019, when a Wall Street Journal investigation cited an alleged secret agreement allowing Chinese military access to Ream—a claim both Phnom Penh and Beijing have consistently denied.
A New Chapter in Regional Alignment
China has been Cambodia’s largest investor and closest political partner in recent decades. During the rule of Hun Sen—Hun Manet’s father—Beijing injected over $4 billion into Cambodian infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hydropower projects, and now military facilities. Meanwhile, US-Cambodia relations cooled, particularly following concerns over democratic backsliding and human rights.
In a sign of warming ties with Beijing, Hun Manet confirmed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Cambodia later this month, underlining the deepening diplomatic and military partnership.
Cambodia is also set to receive two Chinese warships as part of defense cooperation, while Chinese vessels have already been seen docking at the Ream base since 2023.
US Re-engagement and Regional Counterbalance
Despite its concerns, Washington has recently taken steps to re-engage with Phnom Penh. In December 2024, a US Navy warship docked in nearby Sihanoukville—the first such visit in eight years—followed by a February 2025 visit by a senior US Army official.
Japan has also increased its presence, with a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ship scheduled to become the first non-Chinese vessel to dock at the refurbished Ream base later this month.
Strategic Implications
The Ream Naval Base sits near vital maritime trade routes and within striking distance of the South China Sea, where China has overlapping territorial claims with several ASEAN members and has built artificial islands with military installations. Analysts warn that even limited Chinese access to Ream could strengthen its operational reach in the region, raising the stakes for US allies such as Vietnam and the Philippines.
As Southeast Asia becomes a focal point of great-power competition, Cambodia’s approach to military diplomacy—balancing Chinese investment with broader international engagement—will likely remain under close watch.
