Last week, Washington raised concerns about the alleged presence of Chinese forces at Cambodia’s naval base and the demolition of two US-funded buildings at the facility.
The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia says one of its diplomats was not allowed to freely inspect a naval base on the Gulf of Thailand despite permission to do so to assuage Washington’s concerns about China's military presence there
On June 11, the US embassy's Defense Attaché Colonel Marcus M Ferrara visited Ream Nava Base in coordination with Cambodian officials following the recent approval of Prime minister Hun Sen to allay the concerns on Chinese military presence
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Efforts by Cambodia to assuage U.S. concerns about China's right to use a naval base on the Gulf of Thailand suffered a setback Friday when an American diplomat invited to inspect it was allowed only limited access, according to the U.S. Embassy.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh said redevelopment plans for Ream Naval Base was being turned into a geopolitical issue – in a thinly veiled reference to the United States – as the minister continues to clarify Cambodia’s position on whether China will have a military presence at the base..