H.E. Chhum Socheat, Spokesperson and Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence, has clarified that the Chinese naval vessels seen at the Ream naval base in Cambodia have not docked there for more than half a year, like what was reported on July 1 by The Wall Street Journal. The defence spokesperson made the explanation in response to recent inquiries from some journalists, adding that the Chinese naval vessels have just arrived at the Ream naval base. They came to replace the other Chinese naval vessels that had left, and the presence of those vessels was allowed under the agreement by the two countries' Ministries of National Defence for technical capacity building purposes. He also completely rejected the report that Cambodia's Ream naval base is hosting separate sections for Chinese and Cambodian naval vessels. H.E. Chhum Socheat continued that some areas at the naval base are being constructed, and entry is prohibited in accordance with the Royal Government of Cambodia's law. He undersco red that the report by The Wall Street Journal was groundless, politicised, and misleading. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse