"We are planning to buy more ships from the Chinese. Now we are seeking funds to purchase Chinese navy patrol vessels in order to crackdown on pirates and smugglers," co-minister of defence Tea Banh told AFP.

"The plans are still being discussed at the moment and we have not secured funding yet," he said, adding that government had set up a committee to negotiate the issue with the Chinese.

"We need many more navy vessels to patrol our waters so we can crackdown on pirates and smugglers," he said.

Tea Banh declined to give the exact number of ships that Cambodia is seeking to buy.

Cambodia's small and ageing navy engages in occasional spats with Vietnam and Thailand over disputed coastal waters, while piracy and smuggling of drugs, petrol and ordinary consumer items is a rising concern.

Chinese investments are growing in the kingdom, with a visit by Prime Minister Hun Sen to Beijing last year resulting in a 30-million dollar loan and the launch in November of a 70-million dollar Chinese funded highway upgrade.

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