China to Send Warships to Cambodia and East Timor for Training

China has announced plans to send two of its warships to Cambodia and East Timor for training activities with the respective countries' naval cadets. The vessels set to embark on this mission include the Qijiguang, the country's advanced military training ship, and the Jinggangshan, a capable dock landing ship with a capacity to transport helicopters, armoured vehicles, boats, landing craft, and close to 1,000 troops. While China has not disclosed the exact locations where these warships will be stationed during their visit to Cambodia and East Timor, the decision has raised concerns among US officials about China's heightened military presence in Cambodia at the Ream Naval Base.

The partnership between Cambodia and China involving the development of the Ream Naval Base, situated along a crucial waterway in Sihanoukville province, has drawn criticism from the United States. The US is apprehensive that this collaboration may grant China strategic leverage in the South China Sea, a region heavily disputed by multiple countries, primarily claimed by China. By conducting joint naval exercises in Cambodia and East Timor, China intends to foster trust and enhance cooperation between its navy and the local naval forces, further solidifying its maritime presence in the region. Despite the Chinese defense ministry emphasizing the training nature of the visit, the deployment of warships has intensified existing tensions between China and the US over territorial influence and military projection in Southeast Asia.