Has Cambodia Just Become a De Facto Colony of China?
China and Cambodia have signed a landmark agreement granting the Chinese military use of a naval base on Cambodia’s coast.
The agreement grants China’s People’s Liberation Army exclusive rights for 30 years to a massive section of the Ream Naval Base. It allows China to station soldiers, weaponry and warships there.
Meanwhile, a state-run Chinese company is building an airport near Ream, in Dara Sakor, Cambodia. Upon opening next year, it will be Cambodia’s largest airport. Even though China insists it will be strictly for commercial use, satellite imagery shows that its runways are far longer than those needed for commercial aircraft—long enough for Chinese military transport aircraft and long-range fighter jets.
Having a military foothold in Cambodia will considerably boost China’s power to enforce its claims of sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. It will also increase China’s influence over the Strait of Malacca—one of the world’s most important maritime choke points.
This development is also significant because China has recently built and militarized several islands in the South China Sea, mainly in the Spratly and Paracel chains. Adding a military position in Cambodia to China’s existing presence on these artificial islands would give China a triangular perimeter around the entirety of mainland Southeast Asia.
This new deal with Cambodia represents a massive victory for China and a significant loss for the United States. The U.S. has invested billions of dollars and considerable resources over the years into building up Cambodia, striving to win it over as a partner. Despite those efforts, Cambodia is turning its back on the U.S. and giving China invaluable access to its territory.
In terms of Bible prophecy, this is a significant development because the book of Revelation speaks of an Eastern army that will form shortly before Jesus Christ’s return. It says this “kings of the east” alliance will field an army of 200 million soldiers—far larger than any military force in human history. Bible prophecy provides numerous details about this Asian military alliance, including the fact that it will be led by Russia, with China in a position of secondary leadership. When Asian nations such as Cambodia rally behind China today, it is working toward the fulfillment of “the kings of the east” prophecy.
To understand where China’s rapidly rising power is leading and what’s in store for the nations of Asia in the years ahead, order our free booklet Russia and China in Prophecy.
