China to train and upgrade Cambodian army

[beijingwalker]

China to train Cambodian army
Published: 25 Jan 2013 at 08.35

China has signed a contract to train the Cambodian army and to supply Phnom Penh with new and updated weapons, starting with 12 helicopters.

Chinese Gen Jianguo, deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army (left), shakes hands with Deputy Defence Minister Moeung Samphan after signing the agreement on Wednesday. (Photo by Phnom Penh Post)

The ground-breaking deal, certain to shake up regional relations, was signed Wednesday in Phnom Penh at a low-profile ceremony held Wednesday in Phnom Penh.

It was signed by Moeung Samphan, Cambodian deputy defence minister and secretary of state of the defence ministry, and Gen Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, with Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Banh looking on.

The military training and the 12 helicopters "will help to boost the (Cambodian) military's capabilities," said Mr Tea Banh at the ceremony, according to an account from Phnom Penh carried by the People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party.

"This will contribute to assisting the RCAF to increase capacity in national defense sector."

There was no immediate reaction to the low-key report from either Thailand or Vietnam. Hanoi, in particular, is likely to view the military training of the Cambodian army with major scepticism, if not outright opposition.

The move comes at a delicate time, with China under close examination for its huge territorial claims in and near the Asean region. Vietnam and the Philippines have been particularly suspicious of what they view as Chinese overreach in the region.

China has been increasingly active in military and economic affairs in Cambodia during the past several years. In 2012, Chinese companies have pledged to invest $8 billion in Cambodia, a figure equivalent to almost two-thirds of its entire economy.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Hun Sen inaugurated an extension of the Combined Arms Officer School, funded entirely by China.

As for Thailand, any upgrade to the Cambodian army will almost certainly result in both increasing hostility from the ultra-nationalist "patriots" involved in the dispute surrounding the Preah Vihear temple. There are likely to be calls from the military to upgrade Thai forces facing Cambodia, the only country with which Thailand has had armed conflicts in recent years.

On Thursday, top officials of the Chinese government's railways ministry signed a deal in Phnom Penh to design, fund and build a new seaport and 404km railway from Preah Vihear to Koh Kong, the island province just off the Thai coast. The railway will virtually shadow the the entire eastern border of Thailand with Cambodia.

China agreed to train, equip and upgrade the Royal Cambodian Armed Force (RCAF) after the United States considered, then rejected a request by Phnom Penh, a separate report by the Washington-based Radio Free Asia service.

"China has played a key role in improving Cambodia's dilapidated military inventory since 2010, when Beijing donated 250 jeeps (sic) and trucks to Cambodia's army after the US scrapped a similar plan," the RFA reported.

The US opposition to Cambodian military aid was a direct result of the decision by Cambodia to send 20 ethnic minority Uighur asylum seekers back to China for virtually certain imprisonment or worse.

China to train Cambodia army | Bangkok Post: news

 

[beijingwalker]

Maybe Chinese and Combodian army will be using uniform standardized Chinese weapons in the future.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Good news, Combodia is our ally

 

[Viet]

Maybe Chinese and Combodian army will be using uniform standardized Chinese weapons in the future.

You can support them if you like. History shows that Cambodia tends to overestimate itself and used to be a ball played by ancient Vietnam and Siam (Thailand). Hopefully they have learned their mistakes.

 

[Rechoice]

Good news, Combodia is our ally

he can learn from Polpot and Khmer Rouge lession.

 

[beijingwalker]

he can learn from Polpot and Khmer Rouge lession.

time has changed greatly,China now has much more money and rescources at her disposal.

 

[Rechoice]

time has changed greatly,China now has much more money and rescources at her disposal.

no problem, Cambodian can take money from you first,

 

[Fsjal]

To me Thailand is a more important ally for China.

 

[Rechoice]

To me Thailand is a more important ally for China.

Thailand play his game for balancing very good.

 

[beijingwalker]

no problem, Cambodian can take money from you first,

no problem,not a lot of money anyway,and trusting China with her whole military and arsenal is very commendable.

 

[nufix]

Good luck for Cambodian army under PLA's assistance ! Cambodian military personals are very though, now it is time to learn technology and implement it for Cambodia's future warfare under the help from China.

Cambodian army have been sending their cadets to Indonesia for training too since a long time.

Cambodian army with Indonesia's uniform camouflage and KOPASSUS brevet in 1980's

Cambodian military official inspecting their cadets during the graduation day.

Some of their military battalions are still wearing Indonesian military uniform during their mission.

 

[Snomannen]

You can support them if you like. History shows that Cambodia tends to overestimate itself and used to be a ball played by ancient Vietnam and Siam (Thailand). Hopefully they have learned their mistakes.

Well Cambodia does look like a ball from the map.

To me Thailand is a more important ally for China.

Maybe because there are many Chinese influence in Thailand?

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

To me Thailand is a more important ally for China.

Exporting Type54 FFG.

The list of Type54's potential customers keep growing, first Pakistan, then Bangladesh, (Algeria?) now Thailand.

Bangkok to talk frigate purchase with Beijing

The government has formed a committee to negotiate with a Chinese team on purchase of three frigates to enhance Thai’s naval strength in the resourceful Gulf of Thailand, officials said. Both the sides will work out details of the state-to-state frigate purchase agreement the groundwork of which was laid during the visit of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Thailand in November 2012.

The Thai government has recently approved the purchase of two medium-sized frigates with a budget of 1 billion U.S. dollars after denying allegation about the countrys navy persistent request for submarines. However, Beijing had offered three of its Type 054T frigates at a very lower rate and the number of the frigates on conditions that Bangkok can not be denied. Some source said these special offer include six Z-9EC ASW helicopters.

Officials said the armed forced division had planned to utilize budgetary allocations of the 1 billion U.S. dollar fund, approved by the Yingluck Cabinet for the procurement of the frigates, is to be spent for a 10-year period, beginning from current fiscal year. The three frigates are unlikely be procured at the same time.

Type 054T frigate may be an improved version of the Type 054A frigate, possibly designated F40T, for which discussions have been held between Thailand and China.

Officials said commissioning of the type 054T frigates would help the capability of the Thai maritime force in Anti-submarine warfare in the Gulf of Thailand, the dimension of which had changed a lot in the last one decade amid growing interest of Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam in the area.

Officials also said Malaysia also plans to acquire two more Scorpène class submarines and Vietnam has recently purchased from Russia six Kilo class submarines and Russian submarine have already been delivered, the delivery of all six submarines will be completed before 2016 and most important thing is Cambodia has already started Submarine project.

Thailand and its neighbor Cambodia were on the edge of conflict in the Gulf in the past 10 years over oil and gas exploration by the latter in the disputed areas. Both the countries had engaged in legal battle over the disputed areas in an international court.

Besides, Thailand is still running a legal battle against another neighbor, Malaysia, over maritime boundary and also the most revealing public statement by any military top brass on the nature and consequences of the Thai Deep South conflict since violence resumed in January 2004.

Chinadaily US Edition

 

[Viet]

Well Cambodia does look like a ball from the map.

I talked of the past when the Khmer Empire (Cambodia) was the most powerful nation in Southeast Asia and dared to challenge Vietnam. Well, we all know of the outcome: Vietnam and Siam shared the booty.

Khmer Empire 900 AD

 

[Fsjal]

I talked of the past when the Khmer Empire (Cambodia) was the most powerful nation in Southeast Asia and dared to challenge Vietnam. Well, we all know of the outcome: Vietnam and Siam shared the booty.

Khmer Empire 900 AD

So Pol Pot attacked and tried to invade Vietnam so Cambodia can have their ancient land back?