China and Laos have inaugurated a military training center and aviation academy, signaling China's growing foreign military footprint.
New facilities in Laos
Officially inaugurated on September 29 at the renovated Ban Keun airfield, north of the Lao capital Vientiane, the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy suggest that the Chinese People's Liberation Army continues to use a gradual approach to expand its military presence abroad, according to The Diplomat.Chinese defense statement
The statement from the Chinese Ministry of Defense, reported by the South China Morning Post, emphasizes that these facilities aim to enhance the expertise of Lao pilots and are "not intended to be directed against a third country." "The establishment and operation of these two institutions demonstrate the mutual respect and equal consultation between China and Laos, in accordance with the national legislation of both countries, as well as international law and common practices."Previous military bases
This is not the first time China has established and deployed a military base abroad. In 2017, it opened an official center in Djibouti aimed at supporting its patrols against piracy in the Gulf of Aden.Other regional collaborations
Last year, China and Cambodia also inaugurated a joint training and support center at the Ream naval base in southwest Cambodia.
