Latest news with #JapaneseMaritimeSelfDefenseForce
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.
South China Morning Post
19-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Cambodia's renovated naval base welcomes 2 Japanese warships despite US concerns
Two Japanese warships made a port call at Cambodia's Chinese-renovated naval base on Saturday, the Japanese embassy said, the first vessels to dock at the site that has raised concerns in Washington. Advertisement The United States has said the Ream Naval Base, located off Cambodia's southern coast, could give China a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety. Cambodian senior officials have repeatedly denied that the base is for use by any single foreign power, following US media reports in 2022 saying the new facilities at Ream base – originally built partly with US funds – would be exclusively for the Chinese navy. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and a delegation from China's People's Liberation Army inaugurated the base early this month. Hun Manet said during the opening that the base had 'nothing to hide' and denied the new and improved facility would be for Beijing's 'exclusive' use, saying ships from other countries would be allowed to dock. Advertisement Media access to the base was restricted on Saturday when the Japanese vessels Bungo and Etajima from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) made a port call.
Al Arabiya
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Cambodia welcomes Japanese navy ships to naval base that US suspects China will use
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.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cambodia welcomes Japanese navy ships to naval base that US suspects is for China's special use
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Two Japanese naval ships docked Saturday at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, whose recently completed Chinese-funded upgrade has heightened U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. military vessel to Cambodia.
The Independent
19-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cambodia welcomes Japanese navy ships to naval base that US suspects is for China's special use
Two Japanese naval ships docked Saturday at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, whose recently completed Chinese-funded upgrade has heightened U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. military vessel to Cambodia.
