On the afternoon of April 9, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Senior Colonel 张晓刚 released information on recent military issues. A journalist asked about reports that the first Type 056 frigate provided by China as assistance to Cambodia had recently arrived at Ream Naval Base.
The question also cited reports of regional tensions and close attention by Thailand and other regional countries to maritime security developments. 张晓刚 replied that this was an existing cooperation project between the Chinese and Cambodian armed forces, directed at no third party and unrelated to the current regional situation. The report described the project as part of normal, practical bilateral cooperation.
The report assessed that the delivered Type 056 frigate would improve Cambodia’s maritime defence capabilities and help deepen bilateral military cooperation, reflecting what it described as a long-standing, stable strategic partnership.
File photo: a carrier group, not the Type 056 frigate supplied to Cambodia.
