Cambodia - China, Cambodia sign agreements on military aid ahead of regional defense meeting

PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) -- Visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh on Monday signed agreements on military assistance one day ahead of a regional meeting of defense ministers here.

Following a one-hour meeting, Liang and Tea Banh inked agreements on a Chinese grant amounting to 120 million yuan (approximately $20 million ) for the construction of military facilities as well as a series of training sessions for Cambodia's military personnel in China.

Following the meeting, Tea Banh told reporters that Liang's visit to Cambodia is to "confirm the friendship and cooperation in all fields between the two nations, especially in military affairs."

Tea Banh only briefly mentioned his discussions with Liang on the South China Sea, where maritime territorial disputes pit China against Taiwan and four Southeast Asian countries -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Another source said Liang suggested in the meeting that China's position in dealing with the South China Sea disputes is to only involve the claimant states.

Liang, who arrived in Cambodia on Sunday for a four-day official visit, will be meeting with defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday in the capital Phnom Penh.

"There is no doubt that China will touch on her foreign policy that links to the South China Sea disputes which involve four ASEAN member states," one of the sources said.

Cambodia is currently known as having the closest ties with China among the 10-member states of ASEAN.

"China is of the view that Cambodia is one of the few Asian countries that China is going to strengthen defense cooperation," another of the sources said.

ASEAN comprises of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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