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HKFP
14-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
From warships to robot battle dogs: Cambodia, China begin largest-ever military drills
Cambodia and China on Wednesday began their largest-ever joint military exercises, involving advanced Chinese military hardware including artillery, warships and robot battle dogs. Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments, and Washington has voiced concerns that Beijing is using a Cambodian naval base it renovated on Gulf of Thailand to expand its influence in the region. Nearly 900 Chinese military personnel and more than 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills that will last until May 28, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) said in a statement. The drills will feature advanced Chinese military hardware, including armoured vehicles, helicopters, warships, reconnaissance drones and robot battle dogs, the statement said. It said the annual exercises were to 'develop deeper ties and cooperation' between the two armies. 'The exercises are bigger than last year in term of both personnel and equipment,' RCAF spokesman Thong Solimo told AFP. He said a large Chinese naval vessel, the Changbai Shan, docked at Cambodia's Beijing-renovated Ream Naval Base on Monday with the military equipment for the drills. Cambodian political analyst Ou Virak told AFP that 'China does want to flex its muscle' and to send a message that 'it's a superpower' through the exercises, dubbed Golden Dragon. 'Definitely China is trying to… grow its influence within the region,' he said. 'Beyond just flexing the muscle, it needs to build confidence amongst its partners to say to the partners that China is growing, China is expanding, China is also getting stronger, both in size but also in technological advancement, as well as military might,' Ou Virak added. Cambodia is also expected to receive two warships from China. The first Golden Dragon drills were held in 2016, and in early 2017 Cambodia scrapped a similar joint exercise — 'Angkor Sentinel' — which had been held for the preceding seven years with US forces. The drills follow a two-day visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Cambodia in April to deepen ties between the two countries.
The Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodia, China begin largest-ever military drills
Chinese navy personnel wave near a banner reading 'Bring peace and friendship to meet good friends' on the deck of the training ship Qijiguang as it prepares to dock during a welcome ceremony at the Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province on May 19, 2024. - Photo: AFP file PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and China on Wednesday (May 14) began their largest-ever joint military exercises, involving advanced Chinese military hardware including artillery, warships and robot battle dogs. Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments, and Washington has voiced concerns that Beijing is using a Cambodian naval base it renovated on Gulf of Thailand to expand its influence in the region. Nearly 900 Chinese military personnel and more than 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills that will last until May 28, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) said in a statement. The drills will feature advanced Chinese military hardware, including armoured vehicles, helicopters, warships, reconnaissance drones and robot battle dogs, the statement said. It said the annual exercises were to "develop deeper ties and cooperation" between the two armies. "The exercises are bigger than last year in term of both personnel and equipment," RCAF spokesman Thong Solimo told AFP. He said a large Chinese naval vessel, the Changbai Shan, docked at Cambodia's Beijing-renovated Ream Naval Base on Monday with the military equipment for the drills. Cambodian political analyst Ou Virak told AFP that "China does want to flex its muscle" and to send a message that "it's a superpower" through the exercises, dubbed Golden Dragon. "Definitely China is trying to... grow its influence within the region," he said. "Beyond just flexing the muscle, it needs to build confidence amongst its partners to say to the partners that China is growing, China is expanding, China is also getting stronger, both in size but also in technological advancement, as well as military might," Ou Virak added. Cambodia is also expected to receive two warships from China. The first Golden Dragon drills were held in 2016, and in early 2017 Cambodia scrapped a similar joint exercise -- "Angkor Sentinel" -- which had been held for the preceding seven years with US forces. The drills follow a two-day visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Cambodia in April to deepen ties between the two countries. - AFP
Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Cambodia, China begin largest-ever military drills that will run till May 28
Nearly 900 Chinese military personnel and more than 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills that will run until May 28. PHOTO: AFP Cambodia, China begin largest-ever military drills that will run till May 28 - Cambodia and China on May 14 began their largest-ever joint military exercises, involving advanced Chinese military hardware including artillery, warships and robot battle dogs. Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments, and Washington has voiced concerns that Beijing is using a Cambodian naval base it renovated on the Gulf of Thailand to expand its influence in the region. Nearly 900 Chinese military personnel and more than 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills that will run until May 28, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) said in a statement. The drills will feature advanced Chinese military hardware, including armoured vehicles, helicopters, warships, reconnaissance drones and robot battle dogs, the statement said. It said the annual exercises would 'develop deeper ties and cooperation' between the two armies. 'The exercises are bigger than last year's in terms of both personnel and equipment,' RCAF spokesman Thong Solimo told AFP. He said a large Chinese naval vessel, the Changbai Shan, docked at Cambodia's Beijing-renovated Ream Naval Base on May 12 with the military equipment for the drills. Cambodian political analyst Ou Virak told AFP that 'China does want to flex its muscle' and to send a message that 'it's a superpower' through the exercises, dubbed Golden Dragon. 'Definitely, China is trying to... grow its influence within the region,' he said. 'Beyond just flexing the muscle, it needs to build confidence among its partners to say to the partners that China is growing, China is expanding, China is also getting stronger, both in size but also in technological advancement and military might,' Mr Ou Virak added. Cambodia is also expected to receive two warships from China. The first Golden Dragon drills were held in 2016, and in early 2017 Cambodia scrapped a similar joint exercise – 'Angkor Sentinel' – which had been held for the preceding seven years with US forces. The drills follow a two-day visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Cambodia in April to deepen ties between the two countries. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Cambodia, China begin their largest military drills
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and China on Wednesday (May 14) began their largest joint military exercises, involving advanced Chinese military hardware including artillery, warships and robot battle dogs. Cambodia has long been a staunch ally of China, receiving billions of dollars in investments, and Washington has voiced concerns that Beijing is using a Cambodian naval base it renovated on the Gulf of Thailand to expand its influence in the region. Nearly 900 Chinese military personnel and more than 1,300 Cambodian soldiers are taking part in the drills that will last until May 28, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) said in a statement. The drills will feature advanced Chinese military hardware, including armoured vehicles, helicopters, warships, reconnaissance drones and robot battle dogs, the statement said. It said the annual exercises were to "develop deeper ties and cooperation" between the two armies. "The exercises are bigger than last year in terms of both personnel and equipment," RCAF spokesman Thong Solimo told AFP. He said a large Chinese naval vessel, the Changbai Shan, docked at Cambodia's Beijing-renovated Ream Naval Base on Monday with the military equipment for the drills. Cambodian political analyst Ou Virak told AFP that "China does want to flex its muscle" and to send a message that "it's a superpower" through the exercises, dubbed Golden Dragon. "Definitely China is trying to ... grow its influence within the region," he said. "Beyond just flexing the muscle, it needs to build confidence amongst its partners to say to the partners that China is growing, China is expanding, China is also getting stronger, both in size but also in technological advancement, as well as military might," Ou Virak added. Cambodia is also expected to receive two warships from China. The first Golden Dragon drills were held in 2016, and in early 2017 Cambodia scrapped a similar joint exercise – "Angkor Sentinel" – which had been held for the preceding seven years with US forces. The drills follow a two-day visit
South China Morning Post
08-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Cambodia's shift towards India for defence support signals caution over China's ambitions
India's status as a middle power aligns with Cambodia's need to diversify relations from Beijing, with the latest bid by New Delhi to boost defence ties with the Southeast Asian nation seen as part of long-standing efforts to counter Chinese influence in the region. Advertisement At talks between Cambodian Minister of National Defence General Tea Seiha and Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Vanlalvawna Bawitlung last Monday in Phnom Penh, both countries pledged to strengthen security cooperation. On top of appointing a defence attaché, India also plans to open a defence office in Cambodia, building on the Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise (Cinbax-I) conducted last year and its ongoing training of personnel for the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. In February, the Indian Navy's First Squadron arrived at Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia to strengthen cooperation between the two navies. Crew members on board the new naval combatant INS Surat, a stealth guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, on January 11. Photo: AFP Abdul Rahman Yaacob, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute's Southeast Asia programme, said India had a strategic interest in balancing China's influence – especially in the maritime domain – in Southeast Asia.
