By Kevin Wang
A base does not necessarily mean Beijing is gearing up to challenge regional security heavyweights.
A recent report that China is negotiating the opening of a military base in the East African country of Djibouti is certain to prompt speculation among Western nations, particularly the United States, which already have troops in the strategic regional hub. The move is certainly worth attention, but any alarm is premature.
The news, if true, is a good indication of China’s growing confidence in projecting its military – particularly its fledgling navy – beyond its Pacific comfort zone. It is also an indicator of the Asian giant’s ambition to expand its presence in a region that is at the forefront of global conflicts and interests, where great powers jockey for influence.
At a Monday press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying did not directly confirm the news, but said China is willing to contribute more to protecting regional peace and stability along with Djibouti and other countries.
Facing the Strait of Bab el-Mandab, the Persian Gulf’s lifeblood and one of the world’s most crucial checkpoints for oil transits, the tiny nation of Djibouti, with a population of fewer than one million, has been busy playing host to American, Japanese and French military bases, who rely on its geographic importance for anti-piracy purposes.
Read the full story at The Diplomat