Latest news with #Etajima
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Is ships war the new chips war? US naval secretary visits Japan, South Korea to counter Chinese naval dominance
Japanese warships Bungo (left) and Etajima dock at Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia, on April 19. PHOTO: EPA-EFE – Will ships, like chips, become a major battleground for great power supremacy? The United States, whose shipbuilding industry now has a virtually non-existent global market share of 0.1 per cent, desperately wants to make up lost ground on China. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Cambodia flexes ‘agency' in Japan ships' visit to China-funded naval base
Two Japanese minesweepers have become the first foreign military vessels to dock at Cambodia's China-funded Ream Naval Base since its expansion – a move that is likely aimed at showing the facility is not 'exclusively' for Beijing's use amid continued scepticism over Chinese military access. Advertisement The visit by the Bungo and Etajima, both part of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, began on Saturday and lasted for four days, bringing 170 sailors to the recently upgraded facility on the Gulf of Thailand. Analysts said the port call was a symbolic but strategic signal from Phnom Penh that it retained control over the naval base, which had been at the centre of US concerns about China's growing military footprint in Southeast Asia. A Chinese naval vessel docked at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base in the province of Sihanoukville, southwestern Cambodia, on April 5. Photo: Kyodo According to Shin Kawashima, an international relations professor at the University of Tokyo, Cambodia wants to emphasise that Ream will not become exclusively for the Chinese navy, and that sovereignty over the base remains with the kingdom. He noted that the key test would be how often warships from other countries used the base and whether they were outnumbered by Chinese vessels. 'If Chinese ships regularly outnumber foreign vessels by a significant margin, the claim that the port is 'open' would likely be met with scepticism from neighbouring countries,' Kawashima said. Concerns over China's role at Ream Naval Base surfaced in 2019, following reports of a draft agreement that would grant Beijing a 30-year lease allowing for the stationing of military personnel, weapons storage and warship access. Cambodia has denied the claims, but the United States has repeatedly voiced alarm over the issue. Advertisement The Japanese port call comes on the heels of a major expansion at Ream, widely believed to have been funded by China. Phnom Penh maintains that the base remains open to all 'friendly countries' and has pointed to the Japanese visit as proof of its commitment to a non-exclusive policy.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Japan sends more naval ships to China-linked base despite US concerns
Japan has sent two naval ships to a Cambodian naval base which was recently upgraded using Chinese funds, heightening US concerns that it will be used as an outpost for China's navy in the Gulf of Thailand. The two Japanese naval ships docked at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base on Saturday. The two minesweepers are part of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. Their visit marks the first foreign navy visit since the base's expansion project was completed earlier this month. Japanese officials have developed closer ties with Cambodian counter parts in recent year, which experts say is in a bid to offset China's influence in East and Southeast Asia. Japan had been invited to make the renovated port's first call, widely seen as an attempt to allay Washington's concerns. Both Japanese ships made a four-day port call at the base's new pier. Holding a total 170 sailors, they are the 141 metre Bungo and the 67 metre Etajima. The two ships were greeted by Cambodian officials including Rear Admiral Mean Savoeun, deputy commander of the base, who held a welcome ceremony. Concerns about China's activities at the Ream base emerged in 2019 following a Wall Street Journal report alleging a draft agreement that would grant China 30-year use of the base for military personnel, weapon storage, and warship berthing. The US government has publicly and repeatedly aired its concerns. China and Cambodia have close political, military, and economic ties. They commenced the port project in 2022, which included the demolition of previous naval structures built by the US at the base. Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at the new pier, provided they meet certain conditions. When Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani announced the planned visit on Tuesday, he said Japan's port call symbolizes friendship with Cambodia and is key to regional stability and peace. He stated that the visit would help ensure Cambodia has an open and transparent naval port, while noting the concerns over China's growing efforts to secure overseas outposts for military expansion. The port call came just one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day state visit to Cambodia aimed at further strengthening China's strong ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia. A statement on Saturday from Japan's embassy in Cambodia stated that the two vessels are on a mission that began in January to visit 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. The port call in Cambodia is considered a 'historically significant event for Japan-Cambodia relations," it said. The embassy emphasized that the journey of the Japanese vessels 'underlines the importance of freedom of navigation, free and open international order based on international law, and its development." In December last year, a US Navy warship called at the nearby civilian port of Sihanoukville on a five-day visit. The visit by the USS Savannah, carrying a crew of 103, was the first in eight years by a US military vessel to Cambodia.
The Independent
22-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Japan sends more naval ships to China-linked base despite US concerns
Japan has sent two naval ships to a Cambodian naval base which was recently upgraded using Chinese funds, heightening US concerns that it will be used as an outpost for China 's navy in the Gulf of Thailand. The two Japanese naval ships docked at Cambodia 's Ream Naval Base on Saturday. The two minesweepers are part of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. Their visit marks the first foreign navy visit since the base's expansion project was completed earlier this month. Japanese officials have developed closer ties with Cambodian counter parts in recent year, which experts say is in a bid to offset China's influence in East and Southeast Asia. Japan had been invited to make the renovated port's first call, widely seen as an attempt to allay Washington's concerns. Both Japanese ships made a four-day port call at the base's new pier. Holding a total 170 sailors, they are the 141 metre Bungo and the 67 metre Etajima. The two ships were greeted by Cambodian officials including Rear Admiral Mean Savoeun, deputy commander of the base, who held a welcome ceremony. Concerns about China's activities at the Ream base emerged in 2019 following a Wall Street Journal report alleging a draft agreement that would grant China 30-year use of the base for military personnel, weapon storage, and warship berthing. The US government has publicly and repeatedly aired its concerns. China and Cambodia have close political, military, and economic ties. They commenced the port project in 2022, which included the demolition of previous naval structures built by the US at the base. Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at the new pier, provided they meet certain conditions. When Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani announced the planned visit on Tuesday, he said Japan's port call symbolizes friendship with Cambodia and is key to regional stability and peace. He stated that the visit would help ensure Cambodia has an open and transparent naval port, while noting the concerns over China's growing efforts to secure overseas outposts for military expansion. The port call came just one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day state visit to Cambodia aimed at further strengthening China's strong ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia. A statement on Saturday from Japan's embassy in Cambodia stated that the two vessels are on a mission that began in January to visit 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. The port call in Cambodia is considered a 'historically significant event for Japan-Cambodia relations," it said. The embassy emphasized that the journey of the Japanese vessels 'underlines the importance of freedom of navigation, free and open international order based on international law, and its development." In December last year, a US Navy warship called at the nearby civilian port of Sihanoukville on a five-day visit. The visit by the USS Savannah, carrying a crew of 103, was the first in eight years by a US military vessel to Cambodia.
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Cambodia welcomes Japanese navy ships to naval base that US suspects is for China's special use
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Two Japanese naval ships docked Saturday at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, whose recently completed Chinese-funded upgrade has heightened US concerns that it will be used as a strategic outpost for China's navy in the Gulf of Thailand. The visit by the two minesweepers, the 141-meter (463-foot) -long Bungo and the 67-meter (219-foot) -long Etajima, part of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, marks the first foreign navy visit since the base's expansion project was completed earlier this month. Tokyo has developed increasingly close ties with Cambodia in recent years, seeking to offset China's influence in the region, and Cambodia invited it to make the renovated port's first port call, widely seen as an attempt to allay Washington's concerns. Both Japanese ships, making a four-day port call with a total of 170 sailors, docked at the base's new pier, where Cambodian officials, including Rear Adm. Mean Savoeun, deputy commander of the base, held a welcome ceremony. Concerns about China's activities at the Ream base emerged in 2019 following a Wall Street Journal report alleging a draft agreement that would grant China 30-year use of the base for military personnel, weapon storage, and warship berthing. The US government has publicly and repeatedly aired its concerns. China and Cambodia have close political, military, and economic ties. They commenced the port project in 2022, which included the demolition of previous naval structures built by the US at the base. Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at the new pier, provided they meet certain conditions. When Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani announced the planned visit on Tuesday, he said Japan's port call symbolizes friendship with Cambodia and is key to regional stability and peace. He stated that the visit would help ensure Cambodia has an open and transparent naval port, while noting the concerns over China's growing efforts to secure overseas outposts for military expansion. The port call came just one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day state visit to Cambodia aimed at further strengthening China's strong ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia. A statement on Saturday from Japan's embassy in Cambodia stated that the two vessels are on a mission that began in January to visit 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. The port call in Cambodia is considered a 'historically significant event for Japan-Cambodia relations,' it said. The embassy emphasized that the journey of the Japanese vessels 'underlines the importance of freedom of navigation, free and open international order based on international law, and its development.' In December last year, a US Navy warship called at the nearby civilian port of Sihanoukville on a five-day visit. The visit by the USS Savannah, carrying a crew of 103, was the first in eight years by a US military vessel to Cambodia.
