Chinese Warships Permanently Deployed at New Overseas Naval Base

China's naval vessels are now permanently deployed at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, a leading expert has told Newsweek.

The base has come back into focus after the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published new satellite imagery on April 18 showing two People's Liberation Army (PLA) vessels still docked at the pier.

"The satellite imagery strongly indicates that the two vessels never left—the two gaps when they were not at the pier are short enough that it seems far more likely they were engaged in brief exercises at sea, not that they returned home and were replaced by other ships," said the CSIS's Gregory Poling, senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank.

"In that case, the most likely explanation for this five-plus-month deployment alongside other developments—construction that appears aimed at housing Chinese personnel and the 2019 memorandum of understanding that granted China exclusive access—is that a permanent Chinese military presence has started, and we will likely see naval vessels rotationally deploying to Ream for long stints."

The Chinese ships were first shown at Ream in December of last year in a Facebook post by Cambodia's Defense Minister Tea Seiha, which Radio Free Asia also reported.

In June 2022, the Washington Post was the first to report on China's assistance to Cambodia in building the exclusive naval base in the northern portion of Ream. Following The Post's report, Cambodia had confirmed receiving aid from China to help build Phnom Penh's naval capability.

"China's collaboration in training our Cambodian Navy is a testament to the strong and enduring friendship between our two nations. We are confident that this training program will further enhance our naval capabilities and contribute to regional stability," Seiha said in December of last year.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has sought to build a blue water navy, potentially supported by a network of naval bases worldwide to host Beijing's warships.

Newsweek contacted China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cambodia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the U.S. State Department for comment via email.

China's first—and so far only confirmed—naval base is located on the Horn of Africa at Djibouti, where the PLA is permanently deployed. The signs suggest that China's permanent military presence may follow as the infrastructure at the base nears completion.

In March, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said in its annual assessment that China had growing military ambitions, including new naval bases to support Beijing's growing presence on the high seas.

"Beyond developing its military base in Djibouti and its military facility at Ream Naval Base in Cambodia, Beijing reportedly is considering pursuing military facilities in multiple locations, including—but not limited to—Burma [Myanmar], Cuba, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and the UAE," the ODNI said in its annual report published on March 11.

Earlier in January, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet tried to address the concerns around China's naval presence, which were widely reported by international media.

"I would like to reiterate that the Ream Naval Base is often mentioned in the newspaper. Article 53 of our Constitution makes it clear that Cambodia does not allow foreign military bases on its territory, and Cambodian troops also have no base on any territory except under the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions," he said on January 25.

However, the latest analysis by CSIS shows that other foreign naval vessels aren't being allowed to dock at Ream.

"While previous language from then prime minister Hun Sen had claimed that the base's upgraded facilities would be open to visits from all navies, two Japanese destroyers that made a port call in February were routed to Sihanoukville Autonomous Port rather than Ream. Cambodian boats at Ream have continued to cluster at the base's older, smaller pier to the south," the CSIS said in its report on April 18.

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In February, Tom Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submariner and defense analyst, shared his thoughts on satellite imagery which showed substantial progress in construction over a short period at Ream.

"Here's the northern part of the base, compared to just over a year ago (Dec 2022). Lots of new buildings have gone up, with what look like streets and foundations indicating more to come," Shugart wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The U.S. has expressed concerns on multiple occasions about increasing signs of China's naval presence at Ream.

"While we have no comment on this specific development, we have serious concerns about the People's Republic of China's plans for exclusive control over portions of Ream Naval Base," a State Department spokesperson said on December 6.

In November 2022, the Chinese foreign ministry described the assistance to upgrade Ream Naval Base as a normal activity while downplaying concerns about military cooperation with Phnom Penh.