Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday there would never be a foreign military base in his country, following a news report that China was lobbying for a naval base in southwest Koh Kong province.
The Asia Times, citing unidentified diplomatic sources and analysts, reported Thursday that Beijing had been lobbying Cambodia since 2017 for the naval base, which could host frigates, destroyers and other vessels of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
"Does Cambodia need to violate its Constitution to allow a foreign military base on Cambodian territory?" Information Minister Khieu Kanharith quoted Hun Sen as saying on Facebook during a Cabinet meeting Monday.