South Korea on 23 March handed over 208 military trucks and 14 engineering vehicles to Cambodia as part of a military aid package. Source: Cambodian MND

Military Capabilities

South Korea donates over 200 military vehicles to Cambodia

IHS Jane's Defence Weekly 27 March 2017

South Korea has donated 222 military vehicles to Cambodia in a bid to enhance bilateral ties and boost the Southeast Asian country's defence capabilities.

In a ceremony held on 23 March at the Techo Hun Sen Military Technical Institute in the southern province of Kampong Speu, South Korea handed over 208 military trucks and 14 engineering vehicles to Cambodia as part of a military aid package, according to a press statement issued by the Ministry of National Defence (MND) in Phnom Penh.

Presided by Cambodian deputy prime minister and defense minister Tea Banh and South Korean deputy defence minister Kang Byung-joo, the event marked third time Seoul has provided military assistance to Phnom Penh since the two countries established official diplomatic relations 20 years ago.

Kang was quoted by Xinhua news agency as saying that the fourth military aid package, which will be delivered to Cambodia in July, will include 134 trucks, eight engineering vehicles and two river patrol vessels.

Cambodia received the previous two aid packages in 2010 and 2012.

"I'm confident that the assistance will further enhance the friendly relations between our two countries and strengthen the [capabilities] of Cambodian military personnel," said Kang.

Speaking about the newly received vehicles, Banh was quoted by The Cambodia Daily newspaper as saying, "If anyone wants to start to make chaos or any revolution, then this equipment will join all our units."

The defence minister then assured reporters that the vehicles would not be used against the government's political opponents, as his country had other ways to deal with unrest.

"Please don't worry about the personal issues," he was quoted by the paper as saying when asked about political conflicts. "We have laws to implement against those people."