China and Cambodia have launched their first-ever joint naval drills as the two Asian nations continue to forge stronger ties despite objections from Washington.
The drills, named China-Cambodia Golden Dragon 2023, began on March 20 and will be held through April 8. About 3,000 military personnel from both nations will participate in the exercises.
Last year, the Chinese and Cambodian militaries signed a memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation. Officials said at the time that the future cooperation would include military exercises, training, and other exchanges.
The military agreement came after the Biden administration slapped sanctions on Cambodia over its relationship with China. The US sanctioned two Cambodian officials in 2021 due to Chinese construction at the Ream Naval Base, which the US claims will lead to a Chinese base in Cambodia, an allegation Pnom Penh has denied.
The US later imposed an arms embargo on Cambodia, but the pressure has not deterred Phnom Penh from moving closer to Beijing. Cambodia and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have found themselves at the center of the new Cold War between the US and China.
“US sanctions on Cambodia have failed to deter Phnom Penh from increasing ties with Beijing”
LOL. Is that the IQ of our neocon blob these days? It should be painfully obviously to even a 5 year old that if you punish someone unfairly they go and become friends with the other person not punishing them…
“China, Cambodia Hold First-Ever Joint Naval Drills US sanctions on Cambodia have failed to deter Phnom Penh from increasing ties with Beijing”
Look for Cambodia to join the BRICS alliance if America keeps threatening as they are doing with most countries.
Soon America will have no nations remaining that it can influence.
Yes, more good news. At some point the US oligarch class will wake up, … ??
No they will.not. catch on to what is happening elsewhere in the world.TheycRe too myopic and arrogant.They never will see what hit them
Wonderful!
The sanctions served as encouragement.
One would think, at this point, the US would have better things to do with its time, having failed in this arena before.
Our leaders are too arrogant self involved and greedy to embrace the needed changes in order to.survive and as a result we are doomed.sooner.rather then later.