Cambodian Minister of Defence Tea Banh (2nd L), Cambodian naval commander Ung Samkhan (2nd R), Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Zhang Jin Feng (R) and Lu Xiaoyan deputy director of China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) (L), pose for a picture on a naval patrol boat during a test run from the Cambodian naval base in Ream in Sihanouk Ville province, southwest of Phnom Penh, November 7, 2007. China is giving Cambodia nine naval patrol boats to safeguard oil installations in the Gulf of Thailand, another sign of Beijing's deepening ties with the Southeast Asian nation. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
Cambodian Navy sailors stand on Chinese naval patrol boats during a handover ceremony at a Cambodian naval base at Ream in Sihanouk Ville province, southwest of Phnom Penh, November 7, 2007. China is giving Cambodia nine naval patrol boats to safeguard oil installations in the Gulf of Thailand, another sign of Beijing's deepening ties with the Southeast Asian nation. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea Cambodia Buys 9 Chinese Patrol Boats
Nov. 7, 2007
The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Nine Chinese-built patrol boats intended to combat smuggling and other crimes arrived in Cambodia Wednesday.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, who declined to reveal how much the boats cost, presided over a ceremony in which Cambodia received the boats from China.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jinfeng spoke at the ceremony at the coastal city of Sihanoukville, some 185 kilometers (114 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh but did not address the details of the deal.
Aside from combating crime at sea, the defense minister said the boats will be used to protect Cambodia's "natural resources" - an apparent reference to recently discovered offshore oil.
In 2005, China provided six patrol boats to help the impoverished Southeast Asian country combat maritime crime. China has provided Cambodia with hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loans in recent years.
Zhang said Chinese engineers will help train Cambodian naval personnel and assist in the maintenance of the vessels for two years.
"I hope that these sophisticated machines will increase (Cambodia's) capacity for cracking down on drug smuggling, trafficking activities and pirates, and in patrolling the sea border," she said.
Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh, who declined to reveal how much the boats cost, presided over a ceremony in which Cambodia received the boats from China.
Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jinfeng spoke at the ceremony at the coastal city of Sihanoukville, some 185 kilometers (114 miles) southwest of Phnom Penh but did not address the details of the deal.
Aside from combating crime at sea, the defense minister said the boats will be used to protect Cambodia's "natural resources" - an apparent reference to recently discovered offshore oil.
In 2005, China provided six patrol boats to help the impoverished Southeast Asian country combat maritime crime. China has provided Cambodia with hundreds of millions of dollars in grants and loans in recent years.
Zhang said Chinese engineers will help train Cambodian naval personnel and assist in the maintenance of the vessels for two years.
"I hope that these sophisticated machines will increase (Cambodia's) capacity for cracking down on drug smuggling, trafficking activities and pirates, and in patrolling the sea border," she said.
