China's New Cambodian Naval Base: Rev. 1

respect the hustle

Time to update our June 2022 discussion on the PRC’s new naval base in Cambodia.

While the USA and the West have been distracted with legacy concerns in Europe and the Middle East after two decades chasing shadows in Central and Southwest Asia, the People’s Republic of China has kept their eye on the Long Game.

Methodical and not radical. Iterative not transformative.

Successful.

Remember everyone telling us it wasn’t what was clearly was?

Well … hard to hide solid engineering and a complete lack of environmental impact statements.

Via Naval News;

China’s new naval base at Ream in Cambodia is well documented. It will provide the Chinese Navy (PLAN) with a base at the southern end of the highly contested South China Sea. The base is still east of the Malacca Straight which separates the South China Sea from the Indian Ocean, yet is still strategically important. And a key part of China’s construction of overseas bases.

However the base now appears even more expensive and capable than previous reports suggested. There is clear evidence of a new dry dock being constructed.

A new carrier pier and drydock? I want a new carrier pier and drydock.

No fair.

Remember the location:

Interesting times.