China appears to have indirectly confirmed reports that it is establishing a permanent military base in the small East African nation of Djibouti, reports the Shanghai-based Guancha Syndicate.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying refused to confirm or deny the claims during a press conference Monday, but said: "We have noted the relevant report. China and Djibouti enjoy traditional friendship. Friendly cooperation between the two sides has achieved constant growth over recent years, with practical cooperation carried out in various fields. What needs to be pointed out is that regional peace and stability serves the interests of all countries and meets the aspirations shared by China, Djibouti and other countries around the world. The Chinese side is ready and obliged to make more contributions to that end."
Djibouti, which enjoys key strategic positioning in the Horn of Africa as it oversees the Bab al-Mandeb strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world that leads into the Red Sea and via the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean, is already home to Camp Lemonnier, the US military headquarters in Africa largely used for covert and anti-terror operations in Yemen and Somalia.
Read the full story at Want China Times