a secret base in Cambodia built forThe exclusive use of the Chinese Navy. The news, which has already been circulating for months, was confirmed by Western sources and The Washington Post reported on it yesterday.

It takes a fresh install The northern part of the Cambodian base of Ream on the Gulf of Thailand.

This is the second of its kind Beijing has opened – a ceremony scheduled for this week – after the opening ceremony Djiboutiaway from the national territory.

For Western experts, this is the confirmation of how The People’s Republic of China – which already has the largest naval power in the world (355 ships, set to become 460 by 2030, versus 297 in the US) has decided to set out to become a “global power”For the first time in its millennium history.

(“Although the number of ships appears enormous, without a large network of bases, the ability of the Chinese to use their own means is greatly reduced as they move away from their borders,” he explains. Washington Post Andrew Erickson, director of research at the Institute of Chinese Naval Studies at the Naval War College).

Since the days of the empire, the Chinese have always been a little concerned with what was happening far beyond their borders, no matter how big it really was. The only episode read as an attempt to invade an overseas country occurred in the 13th century when a massive fleet attempted to reach Japan. Twice, in 1274 and then in 1281, Emperor Kublai Khan’s ships were swept away by extremely powerful storms (hence the Japanese expression kamikaze, “divine wind”), which eventually forced him to abandon the expedition. But, in fact, in China then (and for a longer period) the Mughals, a foreign dynasty, ruled.

new emperor Who sits on the throne of Zhongnanhai, the fortress of power in the heart of Beijing, decided to change the constants of history as in the country. Xi Jinping wants to demonstrate the new economic and military power by land and water (Military Bases and the New Silk Road).

The problem is It is an unprecedented process of Chinese civilization. He had definitely been attacked many times in the past and he is still remembered humiliatingly today. but, For every action that corresponds – in human affairs – a reaction. This story is just the beginning.

A version of this article appeared in “China America”, the newsletter that Corriere newspaper maintains for its subscribers. To sign up for America China, one of Il Punto’s three daily events, just go here and click on Il Punto