The United States has said the Ream naval base, located off Cambodia's southern coast, could give Beijing a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety.

Under former leader Hun Sen -- Hun Manet's father -- China has poured billions of dollars into infrastructure investment, while Washington's relationship with Phnom Penh has deteriorated.

On Monday, General Ronald Clark, the commanding general of the US Army Pacific, held talks with the prime minister as he began a two-day visit to Phnom Penh, and also met with senior military commanders and officials.

Clark had "constructive discussions" with Cambodian Army Commander Mao Sophan on a range of cooperative initiatives, including the resumption of the joint military "Angkor Sentinel Exercise", the army said in a statement.

Phnom Penh had scrapped the joint military exercises in 2017, which were held for the previous seven years.

Clark also told his Cambodian counterpart that his visit was "to reinforce and expand bilateral defence ties", the statement said.

According to Hun Manet's official Telegram, he also met on the same day with a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, Yin Li, who praised the progress on "all cooperation in all fields" between Cambodia and China.

Cambodia has long been one of China's staunchest allies in Southeast Asia, and Beijing has extended its influence over Phnom Penh in recent years.

Since 2022, China has been funding the renovation of the Ream naval base, which was originally built partly using US funds.

Chinese warships first docked at the 363-metre (1,190-foot) pier in December 2023.

In December 2024, a US warship docked in Cambodia in the first American military port call in eight years.

In the wake of the USS Savannah's arrival, the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo also visited Cambodia -- the most senior US officer to do so in five years -- and said Washington "respects" China's relationship with Cambodia.

Paparo, however, said the US was taking a "wait-and-see" approach to Ream's development.

Cambodian leaders have repeatedly denied that the base is for use by any foreign power.

suy/pdw/dhc

ADMIRAL GROUP