Source: FN
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen reassured Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that Cambodia does not allow foreign military bases on Cambodian soil, speaking in a press conference on Friday during his official visit to Viet Nam.
Article 53 of the Cambodian Constitution stipulates that the Kingdom of Cambodia shall not permit any foreign military base on its territory and shall not have its own military base abroad, except within the framework of a United Nations’ request.
Cambodian Prime Minister told Viet Nam’s premier that Asia Times’ reports was lack of professionalism, accusing the Cambodian government of allow Chinese naval bases in Cambodian coastal area.
“I would like to reaffirm here that the Kingdom of Cambodia does not allow any foreign military base on its territory and does not allow her own military base abroad, except under the UN framework,” the premier addressed.
“Asia Times’ report was not just a concern of Cambodia, but the concerns for the Kingdom’s neighbors and the region,” the Strongman of Cambodia added.
Speaking in the Council of Ministers’ plenary session in Phnom Penh in November, Prime Minister stated that, “I would like to reaffirm that since 1989 until now, there is no foreign troops in Cambodia. As a matter of fact, foreign troops entering Cambodia from 1991 to 1993 was under the UN peacekeeping operations in Cambodia […] In Cambodia, I recognize that there are foreign troops but they are military attaché at respective embassies; there is no foreign troops for combat.”
Cambodia does not allow foreign military base on her soil, regardless of army, navy, or air forces, he continued, adding that: “We reject information that distorts the truth.”