Chinese and Cambodian officials on Saturday presided over the opening of a new China-funded expansion of the country’s main naval base, the subject of long-time concern among U.S. officials.

Since 2022, the Chinese government has funded an extensive expansion and refurbishment of Ream Naval Base, which lies around 30 kilometers from the port city of Sihanoukville on the Gulf of Thailand. The upgrades include a 300-meter-long deep-water pier, a 5,000-ton dry dock, a 1,000-ton slipway, office buildings, and a Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Center.

In a ceremony launching the new facilities, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hailed the good state of relations between Phnom Penh and Beijing, and confirmed earlier reports that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit the country later this month, his first official visit since 2016. A report by the government-aligned Fresh News seemed to suggest that during his visit, Xi would take part in an official inauguration ceremony for the Ream Naval Base.

Manet also asserted that the Chinese-funded upgrades to the base would not affect Cambodia’s neutrality, and that Ream Naval base will be open to warships from all friendly countries.

“From now on, Cambodia welcomes all friendly parties to come,” Manet said, according to a report from state news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse. “Warships from any country weighing less than 20,000........

© The Diplomat