[Global Times Comprehensive Report] The rumor of "China's construction of overseas military bases" has been frequently hyped by the American media in recent years.

The "Washington Post" said on the 6th that China is "secretly building" a naval base in Yunyang, Cambodia.

In response, the Cambodian embassy in the United States retorted in a statement that "the report is a baseless accusation" and that the Cambodian constitution does not allow foreign countries to build military bases in Cambodia.

　　Yunyang Naval Base is located in Sihanoukville Province, Cambodia, in the Gulf of Thailand.

The Washington Post quoted anonymous Western officials as saying on the 6th that the new military base will be located in the north of the Yunyang naval base and will only be used by the Chinese military after completion. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to be held this week.

In fact, the rumor that China will build a military base in Yunyang has been around for a long time, and it is still hyped up after being repeatedly refuted by the Cambodian side.

　　As early as 2019, U.S. officials "revealed" to U.S. media that Cambodia and China signed a secret agreement to allow China to use Yunyang as a military base. This report was dismissed as "fake news" by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

In June last year, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Sherman expressed "serious concerns" about China's "military presence" in Cambodia during a visit to Cambodia, in an attempt to sow Sino-Cambodian relations.

Cambodian government spokesman Siphan said at the time: "The United States is not clear about some of Cambodia's issues, and Cambodia does not understand the intentions of the United States."

　　Regarding the latest report by The Washington Post, the Cambodian embassy in the United States issued a statement saying, "Strongly disagree with the content and meaning of the report, as it is a baseless accusation aimed at negatively shaping Cambodia's image." The U.S. embassy also said that the country adheres to the constitutional clause that does not allow foreign troops to be stationed, "the renovation of the naval base is solely to strengthen Cambodia's naval capabilities to protect the integrity of its maritime territorial integrity and combat maritime crimes including illegal fishing. "

　　Peng Nian, executive director of the SAARC National Research Center of Hainan Normal University, analyzed in an interview with a reporter from the Global Times on the 7th that such behavior by the United States is trying to create a rift between China and Cambodia and other countries with friendly relations, by exaggerating the so-called China's presence in Southeast Asia. regional "threats" and put pressure on these countries.

Peng Nian said that with the increasing strength of China's navy, the United States' anxiety about China is also increasing, and it is believed that various cooperation between China and other countries will involve military aspects.

"In fact, the United States itself is very clear that Cambodia's constitution does not allow foreign countries to set up military bases in Cambodia." Peng Nian said.

(Zhao Juejuan)