China opens military base at former CIA airfield in Laos

China has opened a new military outpost at a former CIA-operated airfield in northwestern Laos, adding to Beijing’s defence cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation. The facility, which began operations on September 29, is located around 40 miles north of the capital Vientiane and 25 miles from the nearest border with Thailand, CNN reported.The outpost comprises the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center at Ban Keun Airport and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy. China’s defence ministry said the facilities would help Laos train and develop its air force pilots and would be jointly maintained by the two countries.Satellite imagery obtained by CNN from intelligence platform Vantor shows that a 6,500-foot runway, taxiway and parking apron capable of accommodating 22 aircraft have been completed since December. Eight aircraft, possibly Hongdu JL-8 jets used for training and light-attack missions, are visible in the images.China’s defence ministry said the facilities were “not directed against any third party and are conducive to further strengthening practical cooperation between the two militaries and maintaining regional peace and stability.”The site previously served as a logistics and support hub for Air America, the CIA-operated airline used during the Vietnam War for covert operations in the region. Its transformation into a Chinese military facility carries historical significance, although analysts cited in the report said it does not indicate a major shift in the US-China military balance.Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said it was difficult to see how the base could threaten US forces in the region. “This runway is not a dagger pointed at the heart of anything,” Thompson said. He also questioned the operational value of launching aircraft from the site, given its proximity to Thailand, a major non-NATO ally of the US.Rachel Vandenbrink, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Reuters that China’s selection of Ban Keun “is likely more about a target of opportunity than filling an obvious operational need.” She said Laos could offer Beijing a strategic foothold in mainland Southeast Asia because of its shared border with China and infrastructure links, including a railway.China currently has one officially acknowledged overseas military base, in Djibouti, which opened in 2017. Beijing has also funded a major expansion of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand, which it operates jointly with the Cambodian military. A new pier capable of accommodating Chinese aircraft carriers has raised concerns about Beijing’s intentions, although Cambodia says the facility remains open to other countries, including the US.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.