U.S. Warship Docks in Cambodia Near China-Funded Ream Base ｜Taiwan Talks EP529

The USS Savannah docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia for five days in the middle of December, making it the first U.S. military vessel to visit in eight years. Sihanoukville port is just 30 kilometers from the controversial Chinese-renovated Ream Naval Base, where two Chinese corvettes have been stationed for about a year, though Cambodia says the base is not an overseas Chinese naval base. The Cambodian government stated that the vessel's visit aims to “strengthen and expand the bonds of friendship as well as promote bilateral cooperation” between the two nations. U.S. and Cambodian sailors even engaged in a friendly beach volleyball match. Are there signs that Cambodia is now ready to open up to the U.S. and diversify from its focus on China for economic and security support?

Our guests:

Alex Tan
University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Professor of Political Science and International Relations
National Chengchi University Chair Professor of Political Science
Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Founder and Principal Research Fellow

Ronan Fu
Academia Sinica Institute of Political Science Assistant Research Fellow

Chapters
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:35 – Is There New Shift in U.S.-Cambodia Relations?
00:03:57 – Why Did U.S. Navy Dock at Sihanoukville?
00:05:43 – U.S. Strategic Shift in Southeast Asia
00:09:00 – Is Ream Naval Base Strategic for China?
00:13:28 – Beijing Concerned With U.S. Influence in Cambodia
00:14:35 – Cambodia’s Long Historic Ties With China
00:19:17 – Does Cambodia Wish To Repair U.S. Ties?
00:22:38 – Cambodia-China Extensive Economic Ties