Two grey shapes, visible in satellite images for much of this year at Cambodia’s Ream naval base, appear to confirm Washington’s growing concerns: that China is expanding its military presence beyond the three disputed islands it has already seized and fortified in the South China Sea. These shapes are A56 corvettes, 1,500-tonne warships of the Chinese navy, docked beside a new, Chinese-built pier large enough to host even bigger vessels. On land, additional Chinese-constructed facilities, believed to be intended for use by the Chinese navy, are also visible.
The Cambodian government has consistently denied these claims, pointing to its constitution, which prohibits any permanent foreign military presence. Officials have also stated that Ream is accessible to all friendly navies. “Please understand, this is a Cambodian base, not a Chinese one,” said Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia. He emphasized Cambodia’s limited military capacity and the need for external training, particularly from China. However, many remain skeptical.
Satellite images chronologically show the construction of a large pier at Ream between December 2023 and October 2024, reinforcing concerns about China’s potential military expansion. Despite China’s rapidly growing navy, now larger than that of the US, it currently has only one overseas military base, built in Djibouti in 2016. In contrast, the US has approximately 750 military bases globally, including one in Djibouti and several in countries near China, like Japan and South Korea.
The US sees this imbalance shifting, driven by China’s ambitions to become a global military power and its substantial investments in overseas infrastructure through the Belt and Road Initiative, which, under Chinese law, must meet military standards. Some in Washington predict that China will eventually establish a global network of military bases or civilian ports with military capabilities, with Ream potentially being one of the first.
Growing ties with China
Ream, located on Cambodia’s southern coast, was previously being upgraded with US assistance as part of Cambodia’s annual military aid. However, this aid was reduced in 2017 after Cambodia’s main opposition party was banned, and its leaders exiled or imprisoned. Already reliant on Chinese aid and investment, Cambodia shifted alliances, cancelling joint military exercises with the US in favour of the “Golden Dragon” drills with China.
By 2020, US-funded buildings at Ream had been demolished, and China began a major expansion of the base. By the end of 2023, the newly built pier resembled the 363-meter-long pier at China’s base in Djibouti, long enough to accommodate China’s largest aircraft carrier.