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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region. Related Articles China Reacts to Trump Tariffs BombshellChinese Bombers Seen in South China Sea Amid US Aircraft Carrier PatrolHow China Became the World's Largest Debt CollectorChina Learns New Lessons From Russia-Ukraine War: Report 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Footage Shows China and Ally Flexing Military Muscles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Chinese military released footage showing it and Cambodia, one of Beijing's closest partners in Southeast Asia, conducting a military drill near the contested South China Sea. The bilateral exercise, code-named Golden Dragon 2025 and held in Cambodia, enhanced both sides' capabilities in "jointly maintaining maritime security," said the Chinese navy on X, formerly Twitter. The drill demonstrated both countries' militaries "have been well aligned in partnership for responding to all kinds of security threats," the Cambodian Defense Ministry said. Why It Matters China has described its relations with Cambodia as "unbreakable and rock-solid," with both sides maintaining close military cooperation, including the construction of a joint logistics and training center at Cambodia's Ream naval base, which was put into service in April. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels sail in formation during Exercise Golden Dragon 2025 near Port Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 26, 2025. Wang Jianwei/Chinese military The center, which is China's second publicly acknowledged overseas base, enables the East Asian power to project and sustain its military presence in the South China Sea, where its territorial claims cover most of the waters and overlap with those of neighboring countries. What To Know In a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Chinese navy announced that a "combined joint field training exercise" was conducted at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville in Southwestern Cambodia, as part of Exercise Golden Dragon 2025, on Monday local time. Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels were seen sailing in formation, the footage shows, while military personnel boarded a ship, subdued suspected hijackers, and rescued hostages. A Chinese Type 056A corvette, CNS Panzhihua, fired its gun at sea targets during the drill. On May 26 (local time), China and Camboida conducted combined joint field training exercise (FTX) at sea and in the air near Port Sihanoukville, Cambodia, as part of Exercise'Golden Dragon-2025', enhancing both sides' capabilities in jointly maintaining maritime security. — ChinaNavy (@China_Navy) May 28, 2025 Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, stated on Thursday that the seventh iteration of the Exercise Golden Dragon series, which commenced on May 14 and concluded on Wednesday, focused on counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance operations. The exercise marked the first time the recently inaugurated joint center at Ream naval base was used to support drills at sea, the Chinese spokesperson said, claiming that the war game enhanced the two militaries' "command coordination and emergency response capabilities." Meanwhile, the Cambodian Defense Ministry stated that the joint exercise achieved "excellent results," noting that the two militaries overcame obstacles and difficulties and are now ready to contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and worldwide. What People Are Saying Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said on Thursday: "China and Cambodia are iron-clad friends with rock-solid relations. The Chinese and Cambodian militaries will work in concert to act on the important consensus between leaders of the two countries." Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on April 12: "I highly appreciate China, which is an important partner supporting Cambodia's development in all sectors in all circumstances and without complicated conditions." What Happens Next It remains unclear whether China will conduct further military exercises in Cambodia as tensions in the South China Sea remain high, with the United States having deployed an aircraft carrier to the region.
American Military News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Pics: China holds war games at new military base near South China Sea
The Chinese military is holding war game military exercises with Cambodia this month, following China's inauguration of a second overseas military base last month. According to Newsweek, Chinese military forces, including a landing capable of supporting amphibious warfare, have been deployed to a new base in Cambodia for a joint military exercise with Cambodia near the South China Sea. Newsweek reported that China officially inaugurated a military base in Cambodia last month as the country's second publicly acknowledged overseas base. According to the outlet, the joint logistics and training center, which is located in the southwestern region of Cambodia, is housed at Ream Naval Base. In a Friday press release, China's Ministry of National Defense announced, 'Chinese troops participating in the China-Cambodia Golden Dragon 2025 joint exercise held a departure ceremony at a military port in south China's Zhanjiang city on the afternoon of May 8.' 'Troops assigned to the Chinese PLA Army, Navy, Air Force and Joint Logistic Support Force assembled on the flight deck of the PLANS amphibious dock landing ship Changbaishan (Hull 989),' the press release added. 'After the ceremony, they set out for the exercise area in Cambodia through sea and air means.' READ MORE: US, Philippines hold 'full battle test' drills amid tension with China China's Ministry of National Defense explained that both the Chinese and Cambodian militaries are holding the Golden Dragon 2025 joint military exercise in Cambodia this month. Chinese officials noted that the joint military exercise will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and counter-terrorism operations. China's Ministry of National Defense added that this month's Golden Dragon joint military exercise is the 7th military exercise in the current series between the two countries' militaries. In a statement obtained by Newsweek, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry, said, '[Exercise Golden Dragon 2025] will facilitate practical cooperation between the two sides and contribute to the building of a China-Cambodia all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.' Pictures of Chinese military troops arriving for a welcoming ceremony in Cambodia have been shared on X, formerly Twitter. On May 12, following days of maritime maneuvers, the Chinese troops participating in the China-Cambodia "Golden Dragon-2025" joint exercise arrived at Port Ream of Cambodia, where they met their Cambodian counterparts in a grand welcoming ceremony. #GoldenDragon2025… — ChinaNavy (@China_Navy) May 13, 2025
Epoch Times
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
China Inaugurates Cambodia Naval Base, Raising Alarm in Indo–Pacific
Commentary The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has officially completed the inauguration of its upgraded naval base at Ream, Cambodia—an expansion that mirrors China's overseas Earlier this month, Cambodia and China inaugurated a joint logistics and training center at the Ream Naval Base, marking Beijing's second publicly acknowledged overseas military facility after Djibouti. The Chinese-funded upgrades include a dry dock and a 650-meter pier capable of hosting warships of up to 20,000 tonnes, excluding only China's largest aircraft carriers. Strategically located on the Gulf of Thailand with direct access to the South China Sea, Ream is Cambodia's only naval base with such reach. The project follows Cambodia's 2020 demolition of a U.S.-built facility at the site and its rejection of Washington's offer to repair it. China portrays the expansion as part of its broader strategy to diversify maritime access and de-risk supply chains, allowing it to bypass regional chokepoints controlled by Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia. While Beijing and Phnom Penh claim the base is intended solely for joint training, counter-terrorism, and humanitarian missions—not military expansion—the United States remains unconvinced. American officials warn that China's involvement threatens Cambodian sovereignty and could significantly Related Stories 9/17/2024 10/30/2024 The day after the inauguration, China and Cambodia launched the Golden Dragon 2025 joint naval exercises at the newly expanded Ream Naval Base. The drills, which included warship formation maneuvers and logistical training, utilized the newly completed facilities, demonstrating that the base is now fully operational and capable of supporting advanced military operations. Although Golden Dragon is not a new exercise, this iteration marks a turning point, serving as a public showcase of the base's upgraded capabilities and the growing military alignment between China and Cambodia. Chinese warships have maintained a persistent presence at Ream since at least 2023, and Beijing reportedly plans to transfer vessels to Cambodia while training local crews. The timing and scale of this year's drills have heightened concerns over the base's potential use by the People's Liberation Army Navy. While previous exercises attracted little attention, this iteration marks Ream's emergence as a platform for power projection, testing both the base's operational readiness and the international response, particularly from the United States and ASEAN members. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet insists the upgraded Ream Naval Base remains under Unlike China's fully Chinese-operated base in Djibouti, Ream is presented as a joint venture, and Cambodia appears to be carefully managing perceptions. In a calculated act of diplomatic balancing, Cambodia invited the U.S. Navy to dock at Ream in December 2024. Most recently, two Japanese warships docked at the Ream on April 19—the first foreign vessel to visit the upgraded facility. Japan, seen as a U.S. ally yet less provocative than the United Kingdom or Australia in the China–U.S. rivalry, offers Phnom Penh a way to signal neutrality without antagonizing Beijing. Still, the timing of the Golden Dragon 2025 underscores Cambodia's growing military alignment with Beijing. The government's invitations to other navies, while aimed at projecting openness, have done little to calm fears in Washington or among ASEAN members, such as Vietnam and the Philippines. Many remain wary that Ream, despite official assurances, could function as a de facto Chinese permanent base. The base, combined with other major Chinese infrastructure projects in Cambodia, underscores the CCP's growing influence in the region and comes amid increasingly strained U.S.–Cambodia military relations. One key project closely tied to the base is the $1.7 billion China-funded Funan Techo Canal, which would connect Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand, offering an inland route that bypasses Vietnamese-controlled ports. Analysts suggest the upgraded Ream facility may serve as a Amid Burma's Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
