China Says Its Defense Cooperation With Cambodia and Thailand Is Routine

China Says Its Defense Cooperation With Cambodia and Thailand Is Routine

China has sought to ease growing concerns over military cooperation with Cambodia and Thailand, saying its defense partnerships with both countries are part of normal bilateral relations and are not aimed at either side in the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute.

The comments come as attention has increasingly focused on Cambodia's acquisition of Chinese-made military equipment, including newly delivered naval vessels, and as Thai officials assess how the development could affect the regional security balance.

China says cooperation with both countries is normal

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing maintains regular defense cooperation with both Cambodia and Thailand.

According to China's position, military equipment sales and defense cooperation with the two Southeast Asian countries should not automatically be interpreted as support for one side in their territorial disagreements.

China has also said it remains willing to play a constructive role in encouraging Cambodia and Thailand to resolve disputes through dialogue and peaceful negotiations.

The message is particularly significant because China maintains close diplomatic and economic relationships with both countries.

Thailand raises concerns over Cambodia's naval modernization

Thai military officials have recently drawn attention to Cambodia's expanding naval capabilities, particularly after Cambodia received Chinese-built Corvette-type warships.

Cambodia's navy has historically relied heavily on patrol vessels. The introduction of larger and more capable warships represents a notable improvement in its maritime capabilities.

Thai Navy spokesperson Parach Rattanachaipan said Thailand was not necessarily alarmed by Cambodia's naval modernization, but said the changing military environment required Thailand to reassess regional security conditions.

He also linked Cambodia's modernization to Thailand's own defense planning, including the need to maintain its naval capabilities.

The development could therefore contribute to a broader military modernization cycle in the region, even if neither country publicly describes the process as an arms race.

Cambodia's new vessels attract attention

One of the vessels receiving particular attention is the Cambodian Navy's Kaoh Kong San Chhay, identified as vessel No. 622 and produced in China.

Cambodian naval personnel have conducted exercises involving the new vessel, which is part of the country's effort to strengthen its maritime capabilities.

For Cambodia, strengthening its navy can be viewed as part of a broader effort to modernize its armed forces and improve its ability to protect maritime interests.

For Thailand, however, the emergence of new Cambodian naval capabilities has become another factor in assessing the security environment around the Gulf of Thailand.

Thailand also uses Chinese military equipment

An important part of the discussion is that China does not supply military equipment only to Cambodia.

Thailand is also a major customer of Chinese defense products.

Thai forces have acquired Chinese-made armored vehicles and tanks, while the Thai Navy has pursued a Chinese submarine project.

This means China's defense relationship with Thailand is also substantial, making the issue more complicated than a simple comparison between China and Cambodia.

Beijing's argument is that its military cooperation with both countries is based on normal bilateral relations rather than an attempt to strengthen one country against the other.

The border dispute adds sensitivity

The issue has become more politically sensitive because Cambodia and Thailand have experienced serious tensions over their border in recent years.

Thai officials have previously raised concerns about Chinese-made military systems operated by Cambodia, while Cambodian authorities have disputed some of Thailand's claims concerning the use and deployment of such systems.

These competing claims have made military equipment an increasingly important part of the wider security debate.

At the same time, Beijing has repeatedly urged the two countries to avoid escalation and return to negotiations.

A wider regional security question

The latest developments highlight a broader question facing Southeast Asia: how should neighboring countries respond when one state's military modernization changes the regional balance?

Cambodia's new naval equipment does represent an important improvement in its maritime capabilities. However, the military balance between Cambodia and Thailand remains significantly different in terms of personnel, defense spending, aircraft and naval assets.

The arrival of new Chinese-made equipment therefore does not necessarily eliminate the wider capability gap.

Instead, it may encourage both countries to pay greater attention to future procurement and military planning.

China emphasizes dialogue

For Beijing, maintaining good relations with both Phnom Penh and Bangkok is strategically important.

China has therefore continued to emphasize that defense cooperation should not be confused with the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute.

Beijing has encouraged both countries to exercise restraint and resolve disagreements through peaceful consultation.

The latest statements suggest that China wants to remain a partner to both sides while avoiding being drawn directly into their territorial disagreements.

What happens next?

The situation will likely depend less on the origin of individual weapons systems and more on how Cambodia and Thailand manage their broader security relationship.

Greater transparency, military-to-military communication, and continued diplomatic negotiations could help prevent misunderstandings surrounding new defense equipment.

For Cambodia, modernization provides an opportunity to strengthen its defensive and maritime capabilities. For Thailand, it creates pressure to continuously evaluate its own defense requirements.

For China, the challenge is maintaining defense and economic relationships with both countries without allowing military cooperation to become another source of regional tension.

Bottom line: China's latest message is that its defense cooperation with Cambodia and Thailand is routine and not directed against either country. At the same time, Thailand's concerns about Cambodia's military modernization show that new weapons systems can have significant strategic and political consequences even when their stated purpose is defensive.