Chinese warships have been stationed at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base for over five months, raising concerns about the permanence of their presence

Cambodia's Defense Ministry insisted Wednesday that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships in a strategically important naval base that is being newly expanded with funding from Beijing does not constitute a permanent deployment of the Chinese military in the country.

China will send two warships to Cambodia and East Timor from the first half of May to mid-June, its defence ministry said, potentially further unnerving the United States over concerns about growing Chinese presence at a key Cambodian naval base.

Cambodia's defence ministry insisted on Wednesday that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships in a strategically important naval.

Cambodia's Defense Ministry insisted Wednesday that the months-long presence of two Chinese warships in a strategically important naval base