Harsha Kakar
China has steadily been working to secure its lines of communication during any future conflict. At the same time, it has always considered South East Asia as its backyard and is loath to accepting any other power in the region.It remains in dispute with many of its neighbours over shoals in the South and East China seas, a claim it projects by means of its nine-dash-line. The Chinese premier, Li Qiang, speaking at the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos, last week, urged countries ‘outside the South China Sea region to respect and support China’s efforts with regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.’
Simultaneously, it is expanding its sway over nations in the region by multiple means including informational, diplomatic and economic. Most of its neighbours are members of the BRI and remain indebted to China. Nations which oppose its agenda are penalized by trade penalties and threats of non-extension of loan repayments. As China’s economic and military might grow, so does its assertiveness. It has become a major player on the global stage.
However, it has a serious security concern. Most of China’s oil supplies transit through the Malacca straits which is open to interdiction during operations. It has attempted to offset this by transporting some of its oil supplies via the land route through Gwadar, in Pakistan, exploiting the China-Pakistan economic corridor. It is also developing the Kyaukpyu dual purpose port in Myanmar. While this may offset some of its oil imports, it still needs to secure the Malacca Straits for the balance of its trade.
To achieve this end, China convinced cash strapped Cambodia to provide it with a military port. Cambodia currently owes around USD 4.5 billion, or about 40% of its total foreign debt to China. A naval base in Cambodia will enable China to expand its operations into the Indian Ocean. As per the Wall Street Journal China inked a secret pact with Cambodia, permitting its armed forces access to its Ream Naval Base for 30 years. The agreement includes storage for weapons and equipment, thereby certifying military exploitation of the port.
Ream is strategically located near an airport currently under construction by a Chinese firm. While both Beijing and Phnom Penh have kept the details of the agreement under wraps, US officials have confirmed its existence, suggesting a significant expansion of China’s military footprint in SE Asia.
In case these reports are true, this base could alter military dynamics of the region. Satellite imagery taken in recent times have indicated regular presence of two Chinese Navy corvettes as also a pier for larger ships. Concerns regarding China’s growing military presence have also been confirmed by reports of construction of other military facilities. China already possesses an oversea military facility in Djibouti, established in 2016.Gwadar, despite all denials by Pakistan, will become a Chinese naval base in the years ahead. Hambantota in Sri Lanka is already under Chinese control.
The Ream Naval Base, located at the Southern tip of Cambodia, at the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand, offers strategic advantages to China mainly due to its location near the Malacca Straits, which connects the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean. It is also a major threat to China’s other neighbours, Vietnam and Thailand, with whom it has territorial disputes in the South China Sea. With a base in Djibouti as also Gwadar, China’s influence now stretches across both sides of the Indian Ocean, raising concerns for India.
Military analysts believe that Ream could also be exploited for satellite tracking, intelligence gathering, or monitoring movement of naval and merchant vessels. Indian officials are particularly cautious, as the Chinese Navy could exploit Ream to disrupt US and Indian naval operations during conflicts, as also protect its trade routes through the Malacca Straits.
Till 2017, Ream was funded by the US. Washington cut its aid for Cambodia when the government banned its main opposition party and jailed or exiled its leaders. Two US funded buildings were torn down in 2020 and Chinese funded expansion commenced. In the past few years, no other nation’s ships, other than China, are being permitted to dock in Ream.
In response to US cutting aid, Cambodia cancelled its exercises with the US and commenced them with China. The US has urged Cambodia to maintain its constitution and prevent exclusive foreign access to Ream. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin recently met with Cambodian leaders to discuss resuming military training exchanges and other collaborative efforts.
With this port China’s ability to project military power in the Indian Ocean has increased. Satellite images confirm strong similarity between the deep-water piers at Ream and Djibouti, both measuring 363 meters. These are large enough to accommodate any ship in China’s naval fleet, including its new 300-meter-long Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier.
China is Cambodia’s closest political ally and Beijing its largest investor. With China’s backing, Cambodia can ignore Western concerns about its dismal human rights record. In return, Cambodia backs Beijing’s standover its South China Sea claims.
Refuting global reports, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Sun Chanthol, stated that the base is intended for Cambodia’s national defence, with Chinese assistance for its expansion, and not for Chinese or any other foreign military use. He stated that once completed, any navy could access the port for humanitarian efforts, disaster recovery or joint military exercises. Since December 2023, Chinese warships have been rotating through Ream on the pretext of training the Cambodian navy.
The development of the Ream Naval Base raises concerns for India, the US and its allies. A secret agreement allowing China access to this base, helps them conduct military operations that might disrupt regional stability and important trade routes through the Malacca Straits. Although Cambodian officials claim the base is only for their national defence, ongoing Chinese naval activities and new infrastructure suggest a more complex military plan.
The base also highlights increasing competition between China and the US for power and influence in the region, a concern for many countries. India too must be prepared for increased Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean.
The author is Major General (Retd).
Follow our WhatsApp channel
