Accusation of Cambodia 'giving away' Ream Naval Base to China is groundless, says Cambodia's defence minister

Cambodian defence minister Tea Banh speaking on the Ream Naval Base issue at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue on June 11. IISS

PHNOM PENH, June 13 (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Cambodian Minister of National Defence Tea Banh regards as “groundless” the accusation that Cambodia is providing China with “exclusive use” of the north portion of Ream Naval Base, calling it an “insult” and merely an excuse to undermine the Kingdom’s interests.

Tea Banh made the remark during the IISS Asia Security Summit – also commonly referred to as the Shangri-La Dialogue – held in Singapore on June 11, an event at which the naval base developments remained a popular topic of discussion that attracted many questions from the forum’s participants.