Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh denied his country was suspending joint military drills with the United States in 2017 and 2018 to appease China, the Phnom Penh Post reported Jan. 18. Cambodia recently informed the United States that it would be suspending the exercises to focus on an anti-drug campaign and to prepare for elections security. Cambodia is quickly becoming China's most valuable ally in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , and is apparently less concerned than other states in the region about maintaining a balance between Washington and Beijing. It has been steadily ramping up military cooperation with China, including holding joint military exercises in December. Still, U.S. defense cooperation with Cambodia does not rise to the level that would likely alarm Beijing, and it should not be assumed that Phnom Penh is ceding to pressure from China in suspending the drills.