US raises concern over China presence in Cambodia

(File photo) Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. (AFP)

The most senior US official to visit Cambodia in years expressed concern yesterday about China’s military presence there and sought clarification on the demolition of US-funded buildings, the state department said. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman urged Cambodia’s leadership to “maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy, in the best interests of the Cambodian people”. She met Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled for over 35 years and has become increasingly close to China while Washington has condemned human rights abuses and his demolition of the political opposition. The Pentagon said last year it was worried about reports that the Cambodian Navy tactical headquarters at Ream Naval Base had been demolished and had asked Cambodia for an explanation. The building, roughly 100 feet long, had housed several small patrol boats. In October, Cambodia said it had razed the building to allow for further expansion and would relocate the demolished facility, denying reports of Chinese involvement. A US state department spokesman said there was “substantial” publicly available evidence that China was working on a major renovation project at Ream and said “credible reports” suggested this would include an area under its exclusive control. “Deputy secretary Sherman expressed serious concerns about the PRC’s (China’s) military presence and construction of facilities at Ream Naval Base,” the state department said in a statement. “She sought clarification on the demolition of two US-funded buildings at Ream without notification or explanation and observed that a PRC military base in Cambodia would undermine its sovereignty, threaten regional security, and negatively impact US-Cambodia relations.”