More than 2,000 troops, including 760 Chinese military personnel, are participating in training at a remote training center in central Kampong Chhnang province and at sea off Preah Sihanouk province.
The 15-day exercise, dubbed Golden Dragon, will involve 14 warships, including three from China, two helicopters, and 69 armored vehicles and tanks, and will also include live-fire, counter-terrorism and humanitarian rescue training.
The hardware on display included a so-called “robodog,” a remotely controlled quadruped robot with an automatic rifle mounted on its back.
The trainers kept the dogs of war on leashes, demonstrating only their walking skills to the journalists and higher-ups watching them, but not their shooting skills.
At the beginning of the exercise, Cambodian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Phon Pisen said it would “strengthen the capabilities” of both armies in the fight against terrorism.
US concerns
Von Pisen reiterated previous claims by Cambodian leaders that Cambodia would never allow foreign military bases on its territory.
After Cambodia dismantled the facility at Ream Naval Base near the Cambodian port city of Sihanoukville, which was built in part with U.S. funds and hosted U.S. military exercises, China declined to finance its renovation. It started.
Two Chinese warships entered Ream in December for the first time since expansion work began on the base.
The U.S. government says Ream could give China a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand, near the South China Sea, which is largely claimed by China.
Last year, Cambodian authorities denied that Ream’s new 363-meter (1,190-foot) pier was intended to berth an aircraft carrier.
Earlier this week, Cambodian military spokesman Thong Solimo told reporters that the 2024 exercise would be the largest of its kind ever and would be paid for by China.
The first Golden Dragon exercise was held in 2016, and in early 2017 Cambodia canceled a similar joint exercise with the U.S. military, Angkor Sentinel, which had been held for seven years.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed last week that two Chinese warships were anchored in Ream “to support the training of Cambodian naval personnel and prepare for Exercise Golden Dragon.”
The spokesperson said the Chinese warships were testing “the Reem naval base that China is constructing for Cambodia,” denying the possibility that Chinese troops would be stationed at the base.
A third Chinese warship entered Sihanoukville on Monday carrying troops and supplies for exercises, the Cambodian military said.
The training follows China’s top diplomat Wang Yi’s three-day visit to Cambodia in April to deepen ties between the two countries.