Chinese troops arrive in Cambodia for Golden Dragon 2024 joint exercise.

On May 13, 2024, Chinese troops arrived at Sihanoukville Port in Cambodia for the annual Golden Dragon joint exercise between China and Cambodia. The troops began unloading their equipment and are set to assemble at a Cambodian Royal Army training base. The exercise involves the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, which dispatched various military branches, including the navy, air force, and joint logistics support forces.
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The 15-day exercise will involve 1,315 military personnel from Cambodia and 760 from China, supported by three Chinese warships and 11 Cambodian ships. (Picture source: Chinese MoD)

According to a Cambodian official, Cambodia and China are set to begin their annual Golden Dragon military exercise this week, aimed at strengthening cooperation and exchanging military experiences. The 15-day exercise will involve 1,315 military personnel from Cambodia and 760 from China, supported by three Chinese warships and 11 Cambodian ships. Cambodian army spokesperson Maj. Gen. Thong Solimo stated that the exercise, commencing Thursday, will focus on combating terrorism and providing humanitarian relief in both countries and the region.

The Golden Dragon exercises started in December 2016, following Cambodia's cancellation of similar drills with the United States, known as Angkor Sentinel. China describes its relationship with Cambodia as "ironclad," with Cambodia being a key ally in Southeast Asia. China has significant influence over Cambodia's economy, being the largest benefactor and creditor, with over 40% of Cambodia's $10 billion foreign debt owed to China. This financial dependency allows Cambodia to largely ignore Western concerns regarding its human rights record, often aligning with Beijing's foreign policy positions, including territorial claims in the South China Sea.

A recent example of Cambodia's alignment with Chinese interests is the decision to proceed with the Funan Techo Canal project. This Chinese-financed project, costing $1.7 billion, aims to build a 180-kilometer canal across four Cambodian southern provinces, connecting Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand. The plan has drawn concerns from neighboring Vietnam, with analysts suggesting that the canal's dimensions could facilitate the movement of Chinese military forces towards Vietnam's southern coast, aggravating already tense relations between the two countries.

China's presence at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base has also raised eyebrows internationally, with suspicions that it might serve as a strategic outpost for the Chinese navy. These suspicions were fueled when two Chinese naval vessels docked at a newly constructed pier at the base on December 7, 2023, coinciding with a visit from China's top defense official. In April 2024, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Cambodia to reaffirm the ties between the two nations.

For the Golden Dragon-2024 exercise, the Chinese deployment includes the Type 071 "Qilianshan" amphibious landing ship and two other naval vessels, reflecting China's military strength in Southeast Asia. While the scale of the exercise may appear modest, it shows China's regional influence and serves as a deterrent to neighboring countries like the Philippines. The presence of Chinese warships at Cambodian docks and the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea highlight the strategic significance of these exercises. Despite being a routine event, the Golden Dragon-2024 exercise carries broader implications. It demonstrates the deepening military ties between China and Cambodia and signals China's ability to project power in the region.