By Nicholas Fang & Aaron Choo
For Nikkei Asian Review
China’s potential military expansion through bases in Southeast Asia has made headlines in recent weeks. A media report that Beijing might be leasing part of Cambodia’s well-situated Ream naval base prompted Prime Minister Hun Sen to denounce the claims as “fake news.”
Despite Hun Sen’s claims, the overseas reach of China’s armed forces is growing. Some may watch the shift in the strategic balance with alarm, but others will recognize that as a major power and economy, China has legitimate reasons to expand its naval presence.
There is a pressing need, therefore, for other powers to move beyond alarmist finger-pointing and instead constructively engage with China as it evolves into a global maritime security actor.
Full article: China’s naval expansionism is natural path for emerging global power [First published in Nikkei Asian Review on 2 August 2019]
About the writers: The writers are from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. Nicholas Fang is director of security and global affairs, and Aaron Choo is assistant director of international affairs and digital media.
