Baca berita tanpa iklan. Gabung Kompas.com+
June 8, 2022, 07.34 PM

PHNOM PENH, KOMPAS.com — Cambodia and China on Wednesday, June 8, broke ground on a Beijing-funded project to revamp a naval base that the US fears is intended for Chinese military use.

The Washington Post this week cited unnamed Western officials as saying the new facilities at Cambodia’s Ream base -- strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand -- were being built for the "exclusive" use of the Chinese navy.

Both countries deny the allegation, with Phnom Penh saying the base’s development is "not a secret."

Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian were on hand Wednesday to see work commence on the new facilities including a boat maintenance workshop, two piers, a dry dock, slipway, and sand dredging for bigger ships to dock.

Also read: Indonesia, Cambodia Reaffirm Commitment to Strengthen Tourism Cooperation

Heavy construction machinery was visible at the site.

“It is not targeted at any third party, and will be conducive to even closer practical cooperation between the two militaries, better fulfillment of international obligations and provision of international public goods,” Wang said.

The project, paid for with a Chinese grant, also includes upgrading and expanding a hospital as well as donations of military equipment and repair of eight Cambodian warships, Tea Banh said.

“There are allegations that the modernized Ream base will be used by the Chinese military exclusively. No, it is not like that at all,” the minister told several hundred people including foreign diplomats at the ceremony.

“Don’t worry too much, the Ream base is very small... It won’t pose a threat to anyone, anywhere.”

Page:
Source VOA News


Recommendation
Comment wisely and responsibly. Comments are entirely the responsibility of the commentator as regulated in the ITE Law
Report
Thank You! We have received your report. We will remove comments that conflict with the Community Guidelines and the ITE Law.

More Headlines

News
April 14, 2023, 12.38 PM

Indonesia Detects New Covid Arcturus Variant

Baca berita tanpa iklan. Gabung Kompas.com+
Baca berita tanpa iklan. Gabung Kompas.com+

MOST POPULAR

Baca berita tanpa iklan. Gabung Kompas.com+
Baca berita tanpa iklan. Gabung Kompas.com+
Close Ads
Oke