"We can't hide anything" say Cambodians at alleged China base

By Prak Chan Thul
REAM, Cambodia, July 26 (Reuters) - Trying to rebut a report
of a secret deal to give China access to a naval base,
Cambodia's defence ministry took reporters to see the torpid
jetty and outbuildings on Friday.
The United States has also voiced concern that the Ream
naval base in southern Cambodia could host forces from China,
the closest foreign ally of long-serving authoritarian Prime
Minister Hun Sen.
"You journalists. Open your eyes and noses. Today we show
you everything," said defence ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat.
"We can't hide anything ... because there are satellites."
The Wall Street Journal said on Sunday that China had
reached a secret deal with Cambodia this year to let it place
forces at Ream. The report cited U.S. and allied officials.
Cambodia denied any such agreement and said hosting foreign
forces would be against Cambodia's constitution.
At Ream, a half dozen grey-painted Cambodian navy patrol
boats were moored by the jetty. Sailors in military fatigues
stood to attention as the press bus passed. Reporters were not
allowed to get off.
The defence ministry pointed out that there was no sign of a
Chinese presence or of any construction.
Reporters were also taken to a building where a sign
proclaimed: "This building was given by the people of the United
State of America an expression of friendship and cooperation."
Inside were U.S.-donated speed boats with guns.
The United States expressed concern to Cambodia over plans
for Ream after its offer to pay for renovations at the facility
was turned down by the Cambodian government in June.
"This causes us to wonder if the Cambodian leadership's
plans for Ream Naval Base include the possible hosting of
foreign military assets and personnel," U.S. Embassy spokeswoman
Emily Zeeberg said in a statement.
Chhum Socheat said the building in question would be handed
to the Cambodian navy, not to the Chinese.
Giving China access to facilities in Cambodia would boost
its ability to assert contested territorial claims in the South
China Sea, challenging U.S. allies in Southeast Asia.
The U.S. embassy said it was also monitoring media reports
about the potential use of a resort by China.
Some 70 km (40 miles) northwest of Ream, a Chinese company
is building a runway at the Dara Sakor resort that is capable of
taking some of the world's biggest planes to serve what for now
consists of a rundown casino and a golf course.
China has poured billions of dollars of aid into Cambodia
while private Chinese money has gone into real estate
developments, factories and casinos.
The town of Sihanoukville, some 10 km (6 miles) from Ream,
has been transformed by Chinese investment and the arrival of
tens of thousands of Chinese workers and visitors.

(Writing by Matthew Tostevin
Editing by Robert Birsel)