Japan Aims to Expand Security Cooperation with Cambodia
Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko talked to Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea by phone on Oct. 30 about further cooperation and ties. Photo: AFP and Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia
- By Chhuon Kongieng
- November 1, 2023 6:00 PM
PHNOM PENH – Japan says it wants to step up security cooperation with Cambodia, a move welcomed by a policy analyst.
Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko talked to Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea by phone on Oct. 30 about further cooperation and ties.
“Minister Kamikawa welcomed the active high-level communication between Japan and Cambodia and expressed Japan’s intention to advance security cooperation through various ways including visits by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force to the Ream Naval Base,” a readout of the talks said.
The first visit of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense ships to Ream Naval Base took place in March 2022.
Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the security cooperation will be a good sign for Cambodia’s contribution to maintaining security in the region and the world as Japan is a country with a good history and relations with other countries.
“It helps Cambodia strengthen its security capabilities and especially avoid the criticism over Cambodia and China at the Ream Naval Base,” he said.
Beijing is renovating and expanding the northern part of the base, which has been under scrutiny from foreign nations and organizations after allegations it could be used by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
He added that cooperation with Japan will bring benefits. Japan is a good ally of the US, which will not have any reason to oppose the cooperation.
When Cambodia cooperated with China at Ream Naval Base, it received negative opinions as the public, especially the US, feared the country would lose its sovereignty under China’s influence.
“This cooperation has been very positive because the two countries are celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year,” said Sam.
He has high hopes that Cambodia can reap the benefits of the security cooperation for development as Japan is a developed country with a high level of technology.
“Although Japan and Cambodia have good diplomatic relations and friendship, Cambodia should be careful about whether it has a bad effect or not on the defense sector or national policy,” he said.
Sok Chenda Sophea and Kamikawa also pledged to uphold an open, free international order founded on the rule of law and to fortify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
