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Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Breaking: Kingdom spent $40 million this year on Chinese weapons, says PM

Breaking: Kingdom spent $40 million this year on Chinese weapons, says PM

| Publication date 29 July 2019 | 20:09 ICT

Breaking: Kingdom spent $40 million this year on Chinese weapons, says PM

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Monday that Cambodia has spent $40 million this year on weapons from China.

He also urged the US to freeze assets in the US belonging to "corrupt" officials even before the "Cambodia Democracy Act 2019” passed into law.

Hun Sen on Monday inspected the under-construction Morodok Techo National Sports Complex, the main stadium for Cambodia's hosting of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, which is being financially supported by China and is costing some $170 million.

He revealed the cost of weapons purchases this year came in response to a report by the Wall Street Journal that Cambodia had struck a "secret deal" allowing the Chinese military to use the Ream Naval Base in Preah Sihanouk province on the Gulf of Thailand for 30 years.

"Cambodia and China have no need to sign a secret deal. No need at all. Now I can say frankly that I am transporting [weapons] by ship.

"I have spent $40 million on buying arms from China, in addition to the $200 million previously spent on such purchases,” Hun Sen said.

Contact author: Niem Chheng

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