This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
A big military training between China and Cambodia, the Golden Dragon 2024, is going to take place on May 16- 30, a Thai national supply said.
The Royal Gendarmerie – a unit of Cambodia’s military forces – said on its , Facebook page , that the drills will be held under the style” Counter- violence Operations and Humanitarian Relief” at two major locations in Kampong Chhnang and Sihanoukville provinces.
General Chhum Sucheat, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defense, even told , a media conference , in Phnom Penh that the workout will start on May 16.
The two forces have engaged in their fifth shared Golden Dragon exercise since 2016. It was canceled in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID- 19 epidemic.
The two Chinese warships, which have been docking at Cambodia’s Ream naval base since December last year, are there to assist with the Thai navy’s training and aid in the mutual exercise, according to Chhum Sucheat, according to a report in Cambodian media.
Ream’s military official refuted claims that the Chinese army had been operating at the center.
Chhum Sucheat said the Chinese side was even checking the quality of the upgraded Ream marine center, which China helped develop, and that the continuous training is focused on “technical expertise in the use of boats and weapons as well as other innovative technologies.”
According to the general, Cambodia intends to purchase comparable warships to those stationed at the base.
Naval drills
According to legend, the two Chinese warships at Ream were Type 056 guide-missile corvettes built by China. The 1,500-ton ship has anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and can carry a helicopter.  ,
The Chinese navy has also sent two additional warships to Cambodia for training exercises in addition to the two corvettes.
Beijing’s Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that the training ships Qijiguang and Jinggangshan, along with Cambodian naval personnel, will be undergoing training in May.
The Jinggangshan, a Type 071 amphibious landing ship that can carry up to 800 troops, also took part in the Golden Dragon 2023 and conducted an unprecedented maritime exercise with the Cambodian navy in the waters off Sihanoukville.
The maritime drills for this year are anticipated to be more extensive because of the presence of four Chinese warships. The two navies will train in search and rescue at sea as well as maritime counter-terrorism operations.  ,
In recent years, China and Cambodia have strengthened their military ties, with Beijing providing Cambodian forces with assistance, training, and equipment. Concerned about “increasing Chinese military influence,” the United States imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia in 2021.
