Description: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has officially inaugurated the expansion of the Ream naval base in the country, just two weeks before the scheduled visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Manet also praised Chinese President Xi for enabling and facilitating the development of the expansion but also stated that China has no exclusive rights to the base even though the countries are close allies. Chinese media and news outlets however projected the inauguration differently and stipulated the base to be of future use for joint military and naval drills, which cited serious concerns over Chinese influence. Prime Minister Manet also stated that Japanese naval vessels would be the first to be hosted on the refurbished naval base which was depicted as an elaborate ploy to refocus the public’s attention away from China’s influence over the country.
Impact: The evident close ties between Cambodia and China would enable the latter in expanding its regional influence and gaining access to critical strategic focal points such as the Gulf of Thailand. The controversial statements from Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet affirm his country’s stance in the strategic partnership with China and reconfirms Cambodia’s future aspirations in being a close Chinese ally. The inauguration of the base expansion comes in the same day as India solidified strategic ties with Sri Lanka and emphasized the ever-revolving power dynamics in the South Asian geopolitical theater.