Satellite photos show expansion of Chinese-funded naval base in Cambodia

A number of new structures have been built at the center of the base, one of which resembles a cement plant to provide for the whole project, according to Tom Shugart, Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security.

Similarly, the two new piers seem to be temporary ones to ferry in construction materials and equipment and not naval piers for warships.

In just six months, two large areas have been cleared for facilities development in the center and the southeast, the latter is approximately 66 acres. The cleared area in the center is around 28 acres, or over 15 percent of Ream’s total land area, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS.

The developers also reclaimed an area in the southern part of the base.

Overall, “the speed and scale of construction is simply impressive,” Shugart told RFA.

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