Cambodia's influential former Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Friday (Dec 20) that Japan would be granted visitation rights to the country's Ream Naval Base, a facility the United States is concerned could become a military outpost for China.

Chinese military vessels have been rotating through Ream since a Beijing-funded upgrade started in June 2022. Cambodia has denied reports of a secret deal with China to station its forces at the base.

The upgrade came after Cambodia demolished a US-built facility at the base in Sihanoukville in 2020, having declined Washington's offer to repair it.

Hun Sen, now Cambodia's Senate president, announced the decision to grant US ally Japan access during a visit by Akiba Takeo, its national security adviser.

According to a post on Hun Sen's Facebook page that was accompanied by footage of their meeting, he praised the role of Japan in a region he said recognised the country as a good partner.

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