Help Us or Keep Quiet, Tea Banh Tells Military Drill Critics

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Golden Dragon 2023 exercises with China on Apr 5, he invited countries to discuss how they can support Cambodia with materiel if they had a real intention to take part in military drills. Photo: Ministry of Defense

PHNOM PENH – Defense Minister Tea Banh has criticized some unnamed countries for what he called jealousy of China over joint military exercises with Cambodia.

He mocked foreigners who wanted to conduct military exercises with Cambodia but never discussed practical cooperation or provided military equipment support like the Chinese side.  Cambodia still lacked equipment for military exercises with foreigners.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Golden Dragon 2023 exercises with China on Apr 5, he invited countries to discuss how they can support Cambodia with materiel if they had a real intention to take part in military drills.

"So far there have been no other countries. Only China always supports all the means for holding military exercises. China also gave military materiel to Cambodia," he said. 

The Golden Dragon exercises came as the development of the Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville province remains a contentious issue between Cambodia and the US.

Japan’s Nikkei Asia news service reported on April 1 that the Cambodian government planned an air defense center and an expanded radar system at Ream National Park near its naval base.

The US says the base is being developed to become China's second overseas military base and first in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Nikkei reported that the plans may only show that Cambodia wants to strengthen its military but experts say the developments would enhance surveillance-gathering capabilities and strengthen Ream's strategic value for China.

The Cambodian Defense Ministry said there would be no Chinese funding, support or presence at these facilities.

Meanwhile, Cambodia and the United States canceled the Angkor Sentinel Exercise in 2017. 

Tea Banh said the Golden Dragon Exercise 2023 was fruitful, showing the steel friendship between Cambodia and China. The exercise would show the world that the Cambodia-China friendship was inseparable.

The armies had gained experience in enhancing their military capabilities, increasing cooperation in the fields of humanitarian and disaster relief, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and security for leaders at major events. It also made significant contributions to regional and global security.

The 5th Golden Dragon Exercise 2023 lasted for 20 days with 2,831 participants, including 2,774 members of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and 257 members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.


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