Chinese Media Uses Oft-Used Tactic to Dismiss U.S. Concerns Over PLA Port in Cambodia

HEADLINE TRANSLATION: Cambodia refutes U.S. media's "China to build a military base in Cambodia" as hype: baseless accusation!

The Chinese media reaction to the Washington Post report about the PLAN’s purported desire to build a navy base in Cambodia closely adhered to an often-used template used to challenge unfavorable stories:

  1. Discredit the report.
  2. Insinuate that the media publication has an agenda aligned with that of the U.S. government.
  3. Accuse the United States of trying to create a “rift” or “drive a wedge” between China and its foreign partner.

Here’s a sample from a story published on Wednesday in the popular nationalist tabloid Global Times:

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by Eric Olander

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