Cambodia Gets 150 Vehicles as Chinese Aid
Defense Minister Tea Banh received the vehicles from Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian in a ceremony at Win-Win Monument, north of Phnom Penh, on Sept. 1. Photo: Torn Chanritheara
- By Torn Chanritheara
- September 1, 2022 5:12 PM
PHNOM PENH – China has handed over 150 vehicles to the Cambodian Defense Ministry to transport officials at an upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting and other purposes.
Defense Minister Tea Banh received the vehicles from Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian in a ceremony at Win-Win Monument, north of Phnom Penh, on Sept. 1.
Included were luxury cars and minibus transport for ministers and senior officials taking part in the meeting as well as radio communication and office supplies.
Tea Banh expressed his appreciation to China’s Defense Ministry for this much needed and timely assistance, reaffirming the ironclad relation between two countries amid challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also cited what he called constant interference, attacks, violation of sovereignty, incitement and division initiated by selfish and destructive people.
“Facing such dangerous threats, China and Cambodia remain steadfast in overcoming adversity and hostile actions in the spirit of peace loving, ironclad friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said.
“We believe that any attempt to destroy the peace and damage the Cambodian-Chinese friendship will be doomed to fail.”
Banh said the aid was valuable as the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense is in need for its foreign military relations, particularly since Cambodia is busy preparing for the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting.
The material would also serve in research, study and protection of military history.
Included were luxury cars and minibus transport for ministers and senior officials taking part in the meeting as well as radio communication and office supplies. Photo: Torn Chanritheara
Wang Wentian said that China and Cambodia are good neighbors and good partners, and a model of relations between countries that respect and support each other.
The ambassador also thanked Cambodia for its continued support for the one-China policy and China's position to protect its core interests.
Wang Wentian said China strongly supports the Cambodian side in pursuing a development path based on its own national condition and defense capacity development.
“We sincerely hope that Cambodia can play a more active and important role in regional security,” Wang Wentian added referring to the use of assistance in hosting the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting.
Ream is an ‘old issue’
Talking after the ceremony, Tea Banh again shrugged off concern about Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province, which is being modernised with Chinese aid. He said this was an old issue and no one could explain it to those with bad intentions.
Cambodia has denied allegations that China is secretly building a military naval base facility in Ream or that China will have exclusive right to use the base, claiming that there will be a port and a shipyard site purely in the interests of Cambodia.
Without mentioning any countries, he considers such repeated allegations as incitement and the creation of chaos from various sources, despite the constant statements from Cambodia rejecting it.
“Speak plainly, talking to those who have good ear yet pretend to be deaf, good eye yet pretend to be blind is very difficult. No matter how we explain, if it is not according to their wishes, they are still accusing us,” he said.
