New facilities in Laos and Cambodia: Is China expanding its military presence in Southeast Asia?

China’s growing military cooperation in Laos and Cambodia is raising concerns among neighboring nations regarding a potential expansion of Beijing’s strategic footprint in Southeast Asia. In late September, China and Laos inaugurated a joint military support and training center near Vientiane, while China has also expanded its presence at Cambodia’s Ream naval base.

Experts like Professor Marco Bünte suggest these developments could grant China greater strategic depth and improved access to the South China Sea. While China maintains that these facilities are for training and not directed at third parties, analysts note that the long-term operational rights remain unclear.

Regional nations are responding with caution, with Vietnam emphasizing the importance of regional stability, while observers suggest that Western nations must provide tangible support to smaller countries to maintain a regional balance of power.