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Preface
It has been learned that the sixth "Golden Dragon" joint military exercise between the mainland and Cambodia will be launched in mid-to-late May, and the participating troops have completed the "departure ceremony" at the Zhanjiang wharf or rendezvous with the Cambodian two 056-A.
Vietnam has just put forward its "demands" and the "Dechong Phu South Canal" project between China and Cambodia is at a critical juncture, all of which have made this "Golden Dragon" joint military exercise particularly eye-catching.
So the question is, what exactly is the meaning of this military exercise? And what about accusations from the West?
1. The "Golden Dragon" military exercise, which has aroused heated discussions
Many people don't know much about the "Golden Dragon" joint military exercise, its scale is not large, and the level is not high-
When it was first held in 2016, there were only more than 800 people in total.
In terms of content, taking "Golden Dragon-2024" as an example, it is mainly about counter-terrorism and rescue, which is inevitably a little "thin" compared with the "anti-submarine warfare and joint air defense" during the Sino-Russian joint military exercises.
However, the Americans have always been obsessed with the Golden Dragon military exercise, because they have always felt that it led to the "premature death" of the US-Cambodia joint military exercise.
From the perspective of timing, it is indeed a coincidence that the Golden Dragon military exercise was held for the first time at the end of 2016, and as a result, Cambodia said in 2017 that the US-Cambodia military exercise needed to be postponed.
The Americans are very puzzled: The "Angkor Sentinel Exercise" has been held for seven years, so why did it suddenly have to be pushed back?
The explanation given by the Cambodian side was that "there are other things to be busy, such as the six-month anti-drug campaign," while the Americans said, "I believe it, but I only believe half of it."
Although a spokesman for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defense made it clear that the suspension had nothing to do with the U.S. exercises and other countries, Americans frequently speculated that Cambodia was doing so in exchange for aid from China.
This also makes every time before and after the Golden Dragon exercise, there are American media "rhythmic" and exaggerate the so-called Chinese threat.
This exercise is no exception, after two 056-A corvettes from the mainland were parked in Cambodian ports, and some American media advertised that "China intends to build a naval base in the Philippines."
The fact that the exercise personnel left by boat was even more widely reported by them, and became evidence that they said that China wanted to make big moves overseas.
In this regard, we can only say that the thief shouts to catch the thief.
It is really brazen for the United States to build overseas bases for hegemony and pour dirty water on the Philippines and China.
You must know that the United States is spreading rumors, and Cambodia has to "break its legs" to refute rumors.
2. Speculation, slander and clarification
The source of the matter was a report by the US media, saying that two Chinese 056-A corvettes were found outside the Ream base in Cambodia.
It's been almost half a year, and the Chinese warship is still parked in Cambodian ports, and it is said that Cambodia does not intend to help China build overseas bases? I think you just want to transfer the Ream base to China for use!
In fact, these two warships just didn't sail back after the previous exercise, and they stopped in the port of Cambodia, so they have nothing to blame at all, and they have nothing to do with the Ream military base.
It's just that some people shout to catch thieves, and they can't stand a little stimulation.
Seeing these two 056-A frigates, and thinking of the dock landing ship that is about to sail to Cambodia, I feel that this configuration is "designed to carry out low-intensity combat missions overseas" at first glance, and I feel that China is going to make a "big move" overseas.
In fact, this is a complete slander, and the 056-A corvette parked in the port of Cambodia is nothing more than an excuse for these people to provoke contradictions.
In 2021~2022, the Golden Dragon exercises were suspended due to the epidemic, and didn't the United States still accuse Cambodia of "hiding the Chinese army in the Ream base"?
The reason why the United States has always been obsessed with this base is also related to the aforementioned "Angkor Sentinel Exercise", because the Ream base was the site of the US-Cambodian exercise before.
Later, when the exercise was suspended, the United States made a special offer to pay for the repair of the training facilities and ships at this base, but the exercise was politely refused.
It's not that Cambodia rejected the U.S. funding, but the money was accepted, but it made it clear that it would be used for other projects, which means that you don't have to worry about the Ream base.
This made the United States angry, and later repeatedly accused "Chinese troops hiding in Cambodia's bases."
In order to refute the rumors, Cambodia can be said to have gone to great lengths, agreeing to the visit of the United States and Australians, and explaining in person at an external meeting.
But who can wake up a man who is pretending to be asleep? Some U.S. media are just taking the opportunity to smear China, and no further explanation is just useless.
3. Dechong Funan Canal
In addition to the United States, Vietnam is not a fuel-efficient lamp.
The United States said it was "concerned that China's construction of the De Chong Phu South Canal project would achieve its military objectives," and Vietnam followed suit, demanding greater "transparency," sharing of specific project data, and "fearing damage to the ecological environment of the Mekong waters."
In fact, this is simply nonsense, as the chairman of the Cambodian Senate, Hun Sen, said:
"This project will only complement the transport routes along the Mekong River, and at the same time provide water, increase freshwater fish production, and facilitate water management during the rainy season, which is very ......"
Where is Vietnam worried about the environmental damage caused by this project? It is clear that after the Dechongfu South Canal is repaired, it will be difficult for him to collect "tolls", and it will not be good to get stuck in Cambodia's neck.
In the early years, the Mekong estuary belonged to Cambodia, but later fell into the hands of Vietnam.
Cambodian ships want to go to sea, not only have to pay, but also have to look at Vietnam's face, "I won't let you live if you give money if you're in a bad mood."
This is no joke, Vietnam has previously refused to allow Cambodia to cross the border by water.
It is precisely because of this that Cambodia will take the initiative to find the mainland, hoping that the mainland can help build a canal, which is a proper "win-win".
After the completion of the canal, mainland enterprises can obtain the right to manage the canal for 40~50 years, which is a good income, and the Cambodian side can "breathe through its own nose".
Some people think that forty or fifty years is too long, but they are very wrong, because it costs us a lot to build this canal, and second, the service life of the canal is much longer than that of roads and railways.
Typical examples are the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Ling Canal in the mainland, which can be used for one or two thousand years at every turn, and what can it be compared to forty or fifty years?
Money is still secondary, mainly because this project is conducive to promoting Sino-Cambodian relations and laying the foundation for follow-up cooperation, which is the most important thing.
We still hope that the Philippines and the United States will not do futile work, stop trying to provoke disputes, and return to the path of peaceful development and common progress at an early date.
Resources
"The Chinese and Cambodian armies will hold the Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercise" China News Network
"The U.S.-Cambodia Military Exercise Died Abruptly and Hides the Secret? Foreign media: Cambodia denies that it is related to Chinese factors" Reference News Network
"Cambodia responds to Biden on base issue, reiterating that Chinese troops are not hiding at Ream Naval Base" Global Times