Work nearly complete on controversial naval base

THE country has confirmed that work is almost complete on a naval base Washington fears is intended for Chinese military use, after satellite images showed a major pier had been built.

US officials suspect the Ream base is being converted for use by China, a close ally of Cambodia.Cambodia has long denied the base on the Gulf of Thailand is for use by any foreign power – despite Beijing funding the revamp – but the row has been a festering sore in ties with the United States for years.