The Pentagon fears that the base will be used by the Chinese to establish an outpost in Cambodia.

Sun Chanthol, the Deputy Prime Minster of Cambodia, told an event organized by a Washington think-tank that military from any country could visit the port after the base was completed.

The Ream Naval Base was not built for the Chinese. Sun, a Center for Strategic and International Studies researcher, said that the Chinese gave us the money to expand Ream Naval Base for the purpose of our national defense.

He said that once the naval base was completed, any navy could call at this port for humanitarian relief, disaster recovery or joint military exercises.

He advised that the U.S. Navy bring small ships to any port visit "because the waters are shallow". He said that a U.S. Navy visit could leave them "stuck" in the port.

In recent years, the U.S.-Cambodia relationship has been strained. Washington was vocal about the government's suppression of political opposition in Cambodia and worried about China's increasing influence.

Since December, Chinese warships - likely corvettes or fregates - have been rotating in Ream to train the Cambodian Navy. Washington has pressured Cambodia to respect its constitution and to prevent foreign countries from having exclusive access in Ream or any other territory.

It was the site of joint training and exercises for the U.S. Navy and Cambodia before the China-funded Ream Base upgrade began in 2022. Cambodia demolished U.S. built facility in October of 2020.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Cambodian leaders in June to discuss resuming military exchanges as well as de-mining, unexploded ordnance removal and other issues. Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom and Bill Berkrot.

(source: Reuters)