By Shannon
In December, a U.S. warship made a port call at Sihanoukville, marking the first such visit in eight years. The port is located just 30 kilometres from the Ream Naval Base, which has been renovated with Chinese assistance.
The United States initially supported the development of the Ream Naval Base, but the project was discontinued due to the deteriorating relationship between Washington and Phnom Penh. Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, China invested billions of dollars in Cambodian infrastructure, including the completion of previously abandoned projects.
Washington has warned that the Ream base could give China a strategic position near the South China Sea. However, Cambodian authorities have insisted that no foreign power will be granted access to the facility.
The port call by the U.S. warship is seen as an effort to improve bilateral relations. The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence emphasized that the five-day visit would improve diplomatic ties and expand broader cooperation.
At the same time, Cambodia has urged the United States to refrain from integrating Phnom Penh into broader geopolitical strategies. It also warned against treating the country as a pawn in global rivalries.
Recently, misinformation regarding China-Cambodia relations has circulated in certain media outlets. These included claims that Cambodia’s Prime Minister expressed reluctance to align with China.
On February 6, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed such claims, reaffirming the strong diplomatic relationship between China and Cambodia. He emphasized that since the establishment of formal relations in July 9 in 1958, both nations have maintained unwavering mutual support.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry further stressed that no external force can disrupt China-Cambodia relations.
Addressing the recent disinformation, a senior researcher at the Cambodian Development Resources Institute, refuted the claims as entirely unfounded.
He noted that Cambodia seeks to maintain stable relations with the United States to ensure continued access to export markets, particularly for its garment industry. Strengthened U.S.-Cambodia ties may also contribute to more positive diplomatic engagements with other U.S. allies, especially European nations.
However, as a small country navigating complex geopolitical dynamics, Cambodia carefully balances its foreign relations and manages diverse demands from both sides. China is likely well aware of this reality, making it unlikely that improved U.S.-Cambodia ties would undermine the China-Cambodia relations.
APD NEWS
