Cambodia has stated that the US Navy will be allowed to make port calls at the Ream Naval Base in
the Gulf of Thailand. The base, which is being constructed with the help of China, has raised concerns
over a permanent People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) outpost adjacent to the southern parts of
the contested South China Sea. However, Cambodia’s invitation to the US is likely a deflection from
the underlying reality that the base is likely to serve as an obfuscated permanent outpost for the PLAN
which is reflective of Phnom Penh’s strategic realignment with China.