Local media said the event will feature speeches by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Ambassador to Phnom Penh Wang Wentian.
Satellite imagery of three new buildings in Ream was unveiled by the United States-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative last year.
Captured satellite images of the construction of the Cambodian Ream Naval Base. Credit: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative / Maxar.
The United States had also previously complained that its defense attache in Cambodia had not had full access to the base when he was offered a tour last June following a visit to the country by Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. Two US-backed facilities at Ream were demolished in 2020.
The U.S. Embassy in Cambodia told the Washington Post that “the renovation of the base only serves to strengthen Cambodia’s naval capabilities.”
But John Blaxland, a professor of international security and intelligence studies at the National University of Australia, said Beijing’s tactics in Cambodia were a “classic case of plausible Chinese denial.”
“It is very difficult to demand that China be responsible for building bases that have a dual application and are convertible for military purposes in a very short time,” he said.
“Until that happens, they may criticize those who call them conspirators and deeply distrustful.
“It’s a classic Chinese behavior to hide its military intentions behind commercial enterprises.”
The Herald and The Age have requested comments from the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh.
Captured satellite images of the redevelopment of the Chinese-backed Ream Naval Base in Cambodia. Credits: CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative and Maxar.
China responds to Australian aircraft interception incident
Also Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said it had warned the Australian RAAF P-8 aircraft involved in an incident in May that it was turning, before a Chinese plane dropped flares and small pieces of metal while Australian plane was approaching Chinese bases in the South China Sea.
The incident, which took place on May 26, led to the condemnation of Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, who accused the Chinese fighter jet of causing a “very dangerous” situation. The Chinese J-16 accelerated and cut the nose of the RAAF P-8, throwing itself sideways at close range to release the flares and straw, small pieces of metal that then entered the plane’s engine. The damaged plane later returned to its Australian base.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said the Australian plane was “seriously endangering” China’s sovereignty and security by conducting low and close reconnaissance of the Paracel Islands.
The Paracels, known as Xisha in Chinese, are a group of more than 30 disputed islands in the South China Sea, claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan. China has militarized some Paracel Islands by building runways and ports.
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“The Chinese army’s countermeasures were professional and safe, reasonable and lawful,” Tan said. “We have strongly warned the Australian side to immediately stop such dangerous and provocative acts, to strictly restrict the action of the navy and the air force. Otherwise, it will bear all the serious consequences.”
Marles said on Sunday that Australia would continue to conduct surveillance operations in the area.
“We have made representations to the Chinese government, but we will not be deterred from participating in the activities, to which we are entitled under international law, in the future,” he said.