China’s not-so-secret base in Cambodia is bigger than we thought

The People’s Republic of China is building a naval base in Ream, Cambodia. Both governments said the Chinese navy won’t operate out of the base, but that argument doesn’t really hold water.

***BREAKING***#Chinese Navy’s Suspected New Overseas Base Cambodia Now Even Larger, dry dock on reclaimed land

Pier likely just large enough for an aircraft carrier #OSINThttps://t.co/H7xtRSUNXH

— H I Sutton (@CovertShores) November 13, 2023

New analysis of satellite imagery by Naval News shows the addition of a very large main pier at the Ream Naval Base, and what appear to be new dry dock facilities. The dry dock operations are being built on what’s known as reclaimed land. Both structures show the base is bigger than what was previously known.

The pier is big enough to accommodate a Chinese aircraft carrier. It also bears a striking resemblance to the pier at the People’s Republic of China’s only other overseas naval base in Djibouti. The dry dock facilities will give the People’s Liberation Army Navy a place to make repairs on ships, should they become damaged during operations in the South China Sea or Bay of Thailand. The war in Ukraine is showing the importance dry dock facilities play when fleets come under enemy fire.

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As noted above, the Cambodian and Chinese governments maintain the Ream Naval Base is being built for Cambodia’s navy to eventually use, but Cambodia’s navy is small. It barely has enough ships big enough to need anything like what’s being built in Ream.

Given the size of the base, the speed at which it’s being built, and the capabilities the base will provide, the consensus in Western intelligence circles is that Ream will absolutely be used by the Chinese navy, and will provide Beijing with another strategic foothold near the South China Sea.

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China spent most of the last decade beefing up its naval power and force posture, which included the construction of man-made islands through a process called reclamation. In 2022, U.S. Navy Adm. and Indo-Pacific Cmdr. John Aquilino said China completely militarized three islands in the South China Sea.

“I think over the past 20 years, we’ve witnessed the largest military buildup since World War II by the [People’s Republic of China],” Aquilino said. “They advanced all their capabilities, and that buildup of weaponization is destabilizing to the region.”

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China’s navy, officially called the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), is the world’s largest in terms of number of ships. It’s also getting bigger every year. However, the PLAN doesn’t have enough bases overseas to truly call itself a global naval power. At least not yet.

China’s first overseas base is in Djibouti, near the Horn of Africa. The Ream Naval Base will be China’s second overseas installation. Located east of the Indian Ocean, the Ream base is strategically important to China. Each year, more than $3.3 trillion worth of goods, or just over 20% of global trade, transits the South China Sea.

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If a conflict did erupt between China and the United States over trade routes or Taiwan, China’s building of a military base in a foreign country presents new challenges for the U.S. as well. A strike on Ream wouldn’t just be a strike on Chinese forces; it would be a strike inside Cambodian territory, as well.

The work at the Ream Naval Base is evident of improved relations between China and Cambodia. The two nations also recently began conducting joint military exercises again. Earlier this year, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn said China is the most important economic and trade partner for Asian countries.

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