Amid U.S. reports alleging Cambodia is giving space to the Chinese military at the Ream Naval Base, Defense Minister Tea Banh on Wednesday inaugurated construction on a major ship-maintenance facility there.
Japan hopes to continue “friendly” visits to Ream naval base, a spokesperson said; a mass trial of at least 40 defendants associated with the CNRP resumed Monday.
A Unesco reports shows that 4 in 10 surveyed women journalists had faced online attacks. Two Japanese marine vessels docked in Sihanoukviile on Tuesday with a planned visit to Ream Naval Base.
The United States imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia for alleged rights violations and increasing Chinese military influence in the country, specifically targeting a military intelligence unit run by the prime minister’s son.
Over the past week, increasing pressure on Cambodia coincided with the suddenly approved release of at least a dozen political prisoners.
In under three weeks, a senior U.S. official pressed Prime Minister Hun Sen over a controversial navy base; a defense attache cut short a visit to the base, saying he was denied full access; and USAID diverted millions in funds away from the Cambodian government.
The Defense Ministry has further responded to a U.S. complaint on Friday that a defense attache was denied “full access” to Ream naval base during a tour, saying it had shown the U.S. delegation new constructions of concern.
An American newspaper on Thursday stood by its reporting of U.S. claims that Cambodia had agreed to give China’s military exclusive access to a Cambodian
China’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday again skirted claims it had struck a deal to gain exclusive military access to a Cambodian naval base, instead denying
VOD is an independent media outlet producing radio programs and disseminating information to the public via the Internet.
© 2019 VOD. All Rights Reserved.
