Japan’s warships to visit China-funded Cambodian naval base in sign of ‘friendship’
Cambodia said it was giving priority to Japanese ships to enter the Ream Naval Base as a tribute to the mutual trust between the two sides
Ream was inaugurated earlier this month with a new pier to accommodate much larger ships, a dry dock for repairs and other new features. China’s role in the project drove concern among its rivals that Beijing may seek to use the facility as its strategic outpost.
Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said the port call by the Japanese ships will help Cambodia to have a naval port that is open and transparent, as he noted concern about China’s growing move to secure overseas outposts to expand its military activity.
The visit “symbolises friendship and closer security cooperation” between the two countries, Nakatani said. “It will contribute to the further openness of the port and it is important in achieving stability and peace in the region.”
02:48
‘Nothing to hide’: Cambodia hails reopening of naval base renovated by China
The two ships left Japan in January and are currently on a four-month mission that includes multinational exercises in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.