Two Chinese warships have arrived on what China called a friendship and training visit to Cambodia, Beijing’s closest ally in South-East Asia, at a time of some diplomatic disquiet.
The visit comes as China is trying to maintain a delicate balance in its relations with Cambodia and neighbouring Thailand, with which it is also friendly.
The two South-East Asian nations in late July were in armed conflict for five days over competing claims to border territory, and Beijing’s supplying weaponry to Cambodia has caused irritation in Thailand.
The border dispute has not been resolved and tensions remain high.
Sam Sokha, a spokesperson for the Cambodian navy, said the main goal of the visit is to strengthen cooperation and that the warships were not intended to show support for Cambodia in the border dispute.
The amphibious warfare ship Yimeng Shan and training ship Qijiguang sailed into Sihanoukville’s civilian port on the Gulf of Thailand and are due to leave on Tuesday, after which they are scheduled to make similar visits to Thailand and Singapore.
In what may be a gesture to easing political concerns, the ships docked at the commercial port rather than the nearby Ream Naval Base, which some Western military analysts fear is a de facto Chinese base.
Rear Adm In Sokhemra, deputy chief of the Ream Naval Base, welcomed the visitors.
“Every year, foreign ships often come to Sihanoukville in Cambodia to conduct cooperative exercises and to strengthen friendship and solidarity, whether from China, the Philippines, Australia or the United States,” he told journalists.
Without specifically mentioning the visit of the ships, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin posted on his Facebook page that China is determined to help protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and will always be a reliable partner in the country’s development.
“China firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and will always be a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development,” the post said.
A large group of ethnic Chinese civilians were among the welcoming crowd.
Members of the crowd raised Chinese flags and Chinese-language placards to welcome the ships, and a traditional Chinese dragon dance was performed as the captain of one of the ships disembarked. — AP
