Cambodia Opens China-Backed Ream Naval Base to All, Amid Western Scrutiny

Cambodia on Saturday, April 5, 2025, has officially reopened its Ream Naval Base, a key military facility upgraded with Chinese support. Under certain conditions, it will welcome warships from "all friendly countries."
Satellite image of the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia taken on July 13, 2023. Cambodia on Saturday has officially reopened its Ream Naval Base, a key military facility upgraded with Chinese support. Under certain conditions, it will welcome warships from "all friendly countries." Handout / BLACKSKY TECHNOLOGY INC / AFP

Cambodia officially reopened its China-backed Ream Naval Base on Saturday, positioning itself at the heart of Southeast Asia’s escalating maritime power contest.

While upgraded with Chinese military support, Phnom Penh insists the base is open to warships from all friendly nations — a move aimed at easing U.S. and Western fears of an exclusive Chinese military outpost.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Edwin Shri Bimo

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Sails Into South China Sea After Nine Days of Drills in Pacific

The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong and other warships sailed through the waters between the Philippines and Taiwan and into the South China Sea after conducting landing drills in the Pacific Ocean. Japan’s defense ministry ...

U.S., Japan to Conduct Joint Naval Patrols With the Philippines in the South China Sea

Tensions in the South China Sea are poised to increase significantly when the U.S. and Japanese navies join the Philippines for joint patrols in contested waters that China also claims. News of ...

Philippines Hopes to Sign Key Defense Pact With Japan

Pam Castro The Philippines’ military chief said Thursday he hoped a key defense pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory would be signed at security talks next ...

Japan, Philippines Hold First Joint Naval Exercise

The Philippine and Japanese navies held their first joint exercise on Friday in the South China Sea as the two U.S. allies boost security ties in the face of China’s growing pressure. The ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP