Japan defense vessels stop at China-funded naval base in Cambodia

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels made a port call at a China-funded naval base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday, marking the first such visit by a foreign vessel since the base was expanded.The visit by the minesweeper tender Bungo and the minesweeper Etajima to Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand comes amid U.S. concerns over China's potential expansion of its overseas military presence.The port call was made as Japan continues to pursue a "free and open Indo-Pacific" in the face of an increasingly assertive China.Ahead of the port call, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakat…READ FULL ARTICLE