Chinese language army personnel head to a area to take part within the Golden Dragon army train in Svay Chok village, Kampong Chhnang province, north of Phnom Penh Cambodia, Thursday, Could 16, 2024. Cambodia and China on Thursday kicked off their annual Golden Dragon army train to strengthen cooperation and trade army experiences. Related Press
SVAY CHOK, Cambodia — Cambodia and China started 15-day army workout routines on Thursday as questions develop about Beijing’s rising affect within the Southeast Asian nation.
About 1,315 Cambodian army personnel and 760 Chinese language are collaborating within the common “Golden Dragon” floor and sea maneuvers, together with three Chinese language and 11 Cambodian ships.
As the primary stage of the workout routines received underway at a Cambodian army base with a forested and mountainous coaching space about 90 kilometers (55 miles) northwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodian military commander in chief Gen. Vong Pisen thanked China for offering new tools and serving to to improve army amenities, together with the Ream Naval Base.
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The USA and others have frightened that China’s involvement in constructing a brand new pier on the Ream base might result in it changing into a brand new outpost for the Chinese language navy at a strategically essential location on the Gulf of Thailand. Because the Golden Dragon workout routines started, two Chinese language warships had been docked on the pier for greater than 5 months, stoking these issues.
Cambodia has insisted, nevertheless, that its structure prohibits the deployment of overseas army forces on its territory, and the Protection Ministry stated the 2 Chinese language corvettes had been simply “testing” the pier and had been available to take part within the Golden Dragon workout routines, whose second part will embody maritime maneuvers close to the Ream base.
Vong Pisen, talking alongside Adm. Gao Xiucheng from the Chinese language army’s Southern Theater Command, underscored Cambodia’s official place, saying the nation would “not permit any overseas army base on our territory.”
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On the identical time, he acknowledged China’s contribution to serving to Cambodia improve its army capabilities and stated the workout routines would assist construct deeper cooperation and belief between the forces of the 2 nations.
The 2 army officers inspected troops and an array of armored preventing autos, artillery and different tools forward of the beginning of the maneuvers.
The Golden Dragon workout routines have been held regularly since 2016, across the identical time that Cambodia canceled related workout routines with the US often called Angkor Sentinel.
Cambodia is China’s closest ally in Southeast Asia, whereas China is Cambodia’s most essential ally and benefactor, with a powerful affect on its financial system.
Past army initiatives, China funds quite a few others in Cambodia — significantly infrastructure, together with airports and roads, but additionally personal initiatives reminiscent of lodges, casinos and property improvement. Greater than 40% of Cambodia’s $10 billion in overseas debt is owed to China.