One of the frigates built by China for Cambodia has been completed and passed technical trial, former defense minister Tea Banh said, adding that the second one is currently under construction.
Banh, who is now a member of the King’s Privy Council, made an inspection on the construction site on Sept. 20 during his visit to China, he said on his Facebook page on Oct. 3.
“[T]he first frigate is a military aid project from China to Cambodia, and which has been fully assembled and successfully passed technical trials,” he said.
The second ship, which is also a frigate, has reached 50 percent completion, Banh added.
The donation of the two warships has been welcomed by the country’s military that has been operating with only small ships.
In the post on his Facebook page, Banh appears in a photo accompanied by China’s Defense Minister Tea Seiha and other senior military officers.
The delivery of two frigates—the first time that China provides such assistance, and this, at the request of Cambodia—has been expected to take place this year or later, the Ministry of National Defence had said when releasing the news of the assistance.
While Banh did not mention the type of warship in his post, the ministry previously stated that the warships would be Type 056C and specifically built for Cambodia.
The Type 056C ship has a displacement of 1,300 tons and has a 76-millimeter caliber rapid-fire gun, two 30-millimeter guns, two double-barrel YJ-83 anti-ship missile launchers, two triple-barrel 324-millimeter caliber torpedo launchers, and an eight-barrel HQ-10A air defense missile system.
This ship also has a helicopter deck that enables a Z-9-sized helicopter to dock. Cambodia operates several Z-9s.
The Type 056 was put in service in China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy in 2013. It is suited for maritime patrol and surveillance, protection of exclusive economic zones, and search and rescue operations. The Type 056A has anti-submarine capability.
The Military has been one of the focuses as Cambodia and China strengthen cooperation in all fields under the Diamond Hexagon framework.
In April 2025, Cambodia inaugurated the newly-developed Ream Naval Base whose expansion done with the assistance of China has been the subject of constant concern for the United States and other countries fearing a potential Chinese military presence.
The base, whose expansion work began in 2022, now includes a pier to accommodate large warships, a training facility and a logistic center. China’s involvement has also consisted of giving the Cambodian navy these two frigates.
Via Cambodian Media Broadcasting Corporation