"China Begins Construction of Secret Naval Base in Cambodia... First Overseas Base in Indo-Pacific"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Reports have emerged that China is secretly constructing a naval base in Cambodia. As this base is expected to become China's first overseas base in the Indo-Pacific region, concerns are rising that the power struggle with the United States will intensify further.

On the 6th (local time), The Washington Post (WP), citing multiple Western officials, reported, "China is secretly constructing a naval base in Cambodia and is taking extraordinary measures to conceal the operation," adding, "A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for the 9th, and the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia is also expected to attend the ceremony."

If the base is established, it will become China's second overseas forward base and is expected to be the first overseas base in the Indo-Pacific region. China previously established its first overseas military base in Djibouti, Africa, facing the Suez Canal in 2017, and will now have a second base in Cambodia.

Reports that China was considering building a naval base in Cambodia were first reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in 2019, but at that time, both the Chinese and Cambodian governments denied the reports, calling them "fake news." The Chinese government then explained that it had only supported military training and military equipment in Cambodia.

WP pointed out, "Equipping facilities to accommodate large naval vessels in the western South China Sea will significantly strengthen China's position to expand its influence in the region," and added, "China will continue to pressure countries in this region diplomatically, economically, and militarily to prevent challenges to its core interests."

With China securing a military base, the power competition between the United States and China in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region is expected to become even more intense. The United States has launched military alliances such as the Quad and AUKUS to counter China and consolidate regional allies. Recently, with President Joe Biden's visits to South Korea and Japan and the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), the U.S. is seeking to expand its influence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.