Cambodia welcomes two Chinese warships

The introduction of two Chinese warships will improve Cambodia's capability to safeguard its maritime interests and rights and contribute to regional peace and stability, said observers of Chinese military affairs.

Wu Peixin, an observer in Beijing, said the two Chinese Type 056 corvettes will significantly extend the Royal Cambodian Navy's operational range and enable the force to handle complex scenarios such as foreign warship provocations that it has difficulties managing now.

"Currently, the Cambodian navy operates a small fleet of surface combat vessels, most of which are light-duty patrol craft. This has restricted the force's operational capability, leading to its inability to protect the country's maritime interests and rights," he said. "Meanwhile, increasing maritime traffic in the region, which is important to the international trade system, requires nations with long coastal lines to have the necessary means and capacity to maintain smooth passage of commercial ships and respond to possible emergencies. And that means Cambodia needs to strengthen its marine hardware."

The Type 056, with its suitable size, advanced equipment and task-proven design, can fit well in the Cambodian navy's operational system and tremendously improve its arsenal, thus boosting the nation's maritime power, he noted.

Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for Cambodia's Defense Ministry, said on Wednesday in Phnom Penh that China will deliver two Type 056 vessels to the Southeast Asian nation as early as next year.

She said the impending delivery follows Cambodia's request for Chinese support.

"It is in the aim of strengthening the capacity and ability of Cambodia to protect and maintain peace, stability, security as well as for supporting search and rescue operations and other humanitarian activities," she said.

An insider in China's shipbuilding industry, who wished to be identified only as Tian, said Type 056 is a good choice for countries like Cambodia that wish to possess a fleet of affordable, multipurpose naval ships.

"Unlike large, sophisticated naval hardware such as destroyers and submarines, corvettes don't need huge ports and expensive maintenance facilities, and they are capable of performing most naval missions, enough to handle low-intensity conflicts, search and rescue, as well as humanitarian relief," he explained. Moreover, the Type 056 will be a good starter for the Cambodian military to learn how to operate ships larger than their own and train their sailors to undertake new tasks, Tian said.

The Type 056 is a class of littoral combat-oriented corvette. Many of these ships have been built and placed into active service, serving users including the People's Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard, and the navies of Bangladesh and Nigeria.