Dara Sakor International Airport

Dara Sakor International Airport is a public use airport in development serving Botum Sakor in Cambodia. It was developed at a cost of $350 million by Chinese-owned Tianjin Union Development Group.[1] The airport will have its first test flights in mid-2023.[2] It will also serve the new Dara Sakor Resort.[3] After a two-year delay, Governor of Koh Kong has announced at a press conference that the airport will begin operations in mid-2023.[4]

Dara Sakor International Airport

អាកាសយានដ្ឋានអន្តរជាតិតារាសាគរ
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesBotum Sakor
Location Cambodia
Coordinates10.915°N 103.224°E / 10.915; 103.224
Websitedarasakor-airport.com/en/
Map
DSY is located in Cambodia
DSY
DSY
Location of Dara Sakor International Airport in Cambodia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 10,498 3,200 Concrete

The airport is to serve as the operational base of Lanmei Airlines.[1]

Controversy

The airport is strategically positioned, located near Cambodia's largest naval base, Ream Naval Base.[5][6]

The airport's 3,400 m (11,200 ft) airstrip is unusually long and can host Chinese military aircraft.[7][8] Based on 'circumstantial evidence,' the US Department of Defense has raised concern that the airport could be used as a PLA Air Force base, however the airport does not have any infrastructure suggesting military use.[9] In 2020, the US placed sanctions against the airport's developer, claiming it was built on seized land and citing possible Chinese military use. Both Tianjin Union group and the Cambodian government have refuted these claims.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Dara Sakor International Airport Close to Operation". Khmer Post Asia. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  2. "Dara Sakor International Airport set for flight trials early next year - Khmer Times". 2021-10-31. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  3. "Koh Kong airport to be ready in three years - Khmer Times". 2019-11-13. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  4. "'100% complete' Darasakor Koh Kong Airport will open this year, states Governor - Khmer Times". 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  5. Beech, Hannah; Dean, Adam (2019-12-22). "A Jungle Airstrip Stirs Suspicions About China's Plans for Cambodia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  6. Taylor, Jeremy Page; Lubold, Gordon; Taylor, Rob (2019-07-22). "Deal for Naval Outpost in Cambodia Furthers China's Quest for Military Network". WSJ. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  7. Foulkes, John; Wang, Howard (2019-08-14). "China's Future Naval Base in Cambodia and the Implications for India". Jamestown. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  8. Poling, Gregory B.; Dunst, Charles; Hudes, Simon Tran (2022-06-14). "Pariah or Partner? Clarifying the U.S. Approach to Cambodia". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  9. "Cambodia, China and the Dara Sakor Problem". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2022-01-23.
  10. "U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese firm over Cambodia project". Reuters. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2022-01-23.


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