‘Real Concern’ Cambodia May Host Chinese Military Assets, Despite Defense Minister’s Downplay: US

[Chanthoeun To]

The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia on Tuesday hit back at Minister of Defense Tea Banh’s bid to downplay suspicions that his government plans to host Chinese military assets at a U.S.-funded naval base in Preah Sihanouk province, warning that such a move would “weaken Cambodia’s independence” and threaten ASEAN.

httpIn a letter written to Tea Banh last month, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Joseph Felter said that Cambodia’s National Committee for Maritime Security Tactical Headquarters had requested that Washington refurbish a training facility and boat depot, built by the U.S. in 2017, when he toured the Ream Navy Base in January, according to media reports on Monday.

Tea Banh responded in an interview with RFA’s Khmer Service that Cambodia had “never rejected” any offer from the U.S. to repair the buildings and said that the facilities in question “needed to be relocated” to allow for further development in the region, while dismissing speculation that Cambodia was planning to host Chinese military assets at the base as “fake news.”

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https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/concern-07022019152216.html