US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's Diplomatic Visit to Cambodia Amid Rising China Concerns

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited Cambodia to meet with the prime minister and defense minister. Washington is worried that Cambodia might give China special access to an important naval base.

This is Austin's second visit to Cambodia as Secretary of Defense. It is the first time a US defense chief has gone to Cambodia to have a one-on-one meeting with the Defense Minister Tea Seiha.

The US is reaching out to Cambodia in an effort to improve their relationship, especially with China's increasing influence in the country. Defense officials mentioned that there is a chance to discuss how the relationship can be more positive and optimistic in the future, particularly with the new leadership in Cambodia under Prime Minister Hun Manet. The visit is not focused on achieving major milestones or accomplishments.

Austin expressed concerns about China's funding and presence at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand. In December, China docked two warships at the base, strategically located near the South China Sea.

Despite Cambodian officials denying that the facility would be used as a naval base by China, they claim it aligns with Cambodia's constitution, which prohibits foreign military bases on its land. Chinese officials have labeled the base as an "aid project" to strengthen Cambodia's navy, dismissing any other claims as mere "hype" with hidden agendas.

Beijing asserts its claim of complete sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, an area spanning 1.3 million square miles. This claim is disputed by the US and many of its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese ships and aircraft have been reported to harass others operating in the region, including American vessels and planes.

Recent incidents of China using powerful water cannons to attack Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have raised concerns in the US. Additionally, China conducted large military exercises near Taiwan, a self-governing island. These drills were seen as a form of "punishment" towards Taiwan's new president, who Beijing strongly opposes due to her stance on the island's sovereignty.

The US is concerned about China potentially setting up a new military base near a crucial waterway. A Pentagon spokesperson emphasized these concerns after meetings with Secretary Austin, stating that face-to-face discussions allow for clear communication and the opportunity to strengthen relationships without forcing any country to pick sides.

However, as China and Cambodia continue to strengthen their military partnership, tensions between Washington and Phnom Penh have escalated. Cambodia decided to cancel military drills with the US in 2017 and demolished a facility built by the US in Ream in 2020. The US has been critical of Cambodia's human rights violations and democratic decline. In response to Cambodia's disputed election, the Biden administration imposed sanctions on Cambodian individuals, citing the election as "neither free nor fair."

On Tuesday, Austin met with former Prime Minister Hun Sen, who now serves as president of Cambodia’s Senate after handing over power to his son, a military general. Defense officials are optimistic that Austin can establish a relationship with Prime Minister Hun Manet, who, like Austin, is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and is considered more westernized than his father.

The Pentagon stated in a summary after Austin's meetings that the officials talked about ways to enhance the US-Cambodia defense partnership to support regional peace and security. This includes restarting military training exchanges on disaster relief and United Nations Peacekeeping, training and exchanges on de-mining and clearing unexploded ordnance, and Cambodia's participation in US PME programs. They also expressed interest in ongoing discussions between their defense establishments on these matters.

Austin recently visited Phnom Penh after a five-day trip to Asia, which included attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. During his visit, he emphasized the importance of addressing China's "coercive" actions in the region and strengthening relationships with key Asian leaders.

During a meeting with China's Defense Minister Dong Jun, their first in-person meeting, Austin expressed the US' interest in maintaining open military-to-military communication with China to prevent misunderstandings and prevent escalation.

In a passionate speech, Dong seemed to agree with the previous statement, but also criticized "external interfering forces" for selling arms and engaging in "illegal official contacts" with Taiwan. This was seen as a reference to the US, which has unofficial ties with the island democracy. Dong emphasized that Beijing does not act from a position of strength.

A senior US official told CNN that the speech did not reflect the reality of China's People's Liberation Army's coercive activities in the region.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the growing tensions between the US and Cambodia over China's increasing influence in the country, particularly at the Ream Naval Base. The US is concerned that Cambodia may grant China exclusive access to the base, potentially giving Beijing a strategic foothold in the region. The visit by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Cambodia is an attempt to improve relations and address these concerns.

While the US and Cambodia have agreed to enhance their defense partnership in areas such as disaster relief and peacekeeping, it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to counter China's growing presence in the country. The US is also concerned about China's assertive actions in the South China Sea, which have raised tensions with its neighbors and the US. Beijing's claims to sovereignty over most of the sea, disputed by many countries in the region, have led to incidents of harassment and aggression. The US has expressed its commitment to maintaining open military-to-military communication with China to prevent misunderstandings and escalation, but it remains to be seen whether this will be effective in addressing the underlying tensions between the two countries.