Cambodia and China deny naval base scheme as Australian PM voices concern

Cambodia says facilities at Ream naval base will not be for exclusive use of Chinese military, while Beijing denounces malicious conjecture'

Chinese and Cambodian officials attended a ceremony for a controversial naval port expansion on Wednesday, dismissing reports that the base will provide a crucial strategic foothold for Beijing.

Officials broke ground at the Ream naval base, turning over shovels of dirt as work commenced on a China-funded renovation of Ream, Cambodia's biggest naval base.