China built a ‘secret naval base’ in Cambodia

The United States is forming new, and building on, existing military partnerships in the Pacific. China knows that and is busy building up military alliances of its own.

New satellite imagery from a company called BlackSky shows what Western intelligence firms dubbed a “secret” Chinese naval base. It’s just the second staging facility China has outside its territory.

BlackSky laid out its findings at the DGI London conference. BlackSky said it studied a series of images which showed work started in earnest last June at the Ream Naval Base. Since then, two new piers have been built in water deep enough to service Chinese aircraft carriers.

Radio Free Asia reported two large areas totaling around 66 acres were also cleared at Ream Naval Base. It is believed the area will be used to construct new facilities on the base.

The revelation of the secret facility comes on the heels of the announcement China and Cambodia are resuming joint military exercises later this month called “Golden Dragon.” Elements from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will work together in a series of military exercises, including both ground and air drills. This will be the first Golden Dragon games since 2020 because of the pandemic.

Cambodia’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn said Wednesday China is the most important economic and trade partner for Asian countries.

“China’s economic influence in many parts of the world is broad and growing constantly,” Sokhonn said at the annual conference of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Sokhonn’s comments are further proof of the growing bond between China and Cambodia. It’s a relationship which should concern the United States and its allies in the Pacific. Authorities still haven’t found all the bodies from the last time Cambodia was this close with China, and a Chinese naval base in Cambodia will allow the PLA another foothold in the Pacific to launch a potential attack on Taiwan.