#China is building #PLA naval facility in northern portiion of #Cambodia’s #Ream #NavalBase on the #Gulf of #Thailand. #PLAN 
Back in 2019, #China signed an agreement allowing its armed forces to use a #Cambodian #NavalBase to boost its ability to project military power around the globe.
The deal allows #China to use the base for 30 years, with automatic renewals every 10 years after that. #China would be able to post military personnel, store weapons & berth warships. A #Chinese company is also constructing a very large airport very close to the Naval facility.
The #Chinese naval base in #Cambodia, its 2nd such overseas outpost and its 1st in the strategically significant #Indo-#Pacific region. #China’s only other foreign military base right now is a naval facility in the East #African country of #Djibouti.
Military operations from the naval base, airport, or both would sharply increase #Beijing’s capacity to enforce territorial claims and economic interests in the #SouthChinaSea & to extend its influence over the strategically important #MalaccaStrait.
#Beijing’s strategy is to build a network of military facilities around the world in support of its aspirations to become a true global power.
Having a facility capable of hosting large naval vessels to the west of the #SouthChinaSea would be an important element of #China’s ambition to expand its influence in the region & would strengthen its presence near key Southeast #Asian sea lanes.
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