China opens joint military airfield in Laos
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 03:32 · Archive
China has officially opened a joint military airfield in Laos, its first overseas air power facility.
China has officially opened a joint military airfield near Vientiane in Laos, its first overseas facility focused on air power. The Ban Keun airport, located about 50 kilometres north of the Laotian capital, was opened at a September ceremony even as satellite imagery showed construction appeared to be ongoing in many areas.
The facility is China's latest project to project military force beyond its borders. It follows the establishment of a base in Djibouti, the Ream naval facility in Cambodia, the militarisation and expansion of islands in the South China Sea, and a growing carrier fleet.
Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the airport does not immediately 'radically alter any balance of power or give China much ability to project force toward the Strait of Malacca that it doesn't already have'. However, with potential for expansion, the airport is likely to concern neighbouring Vietnam, which has competing territorial claims with Beijing in the South China Sea. Poling characterised the Laos project as a 'target of opportunity' for China, similar to the Ream naval base in Cambodia.
How it is being reported
- China opens a joint airfield in Laos with construction ongoing and eyes on its military roleChina’s newly opened joint military airfield in Laos is Beijing’s first overseas facility focused on air power.Clickorlando · 15 Oct, 03:13
- China opens a joint airfield in Laos with construction ongoing and eyes on its military roleChina’s newly opened joint military airfield in Laos is Beijing’s first overseas facility focused on air power.News4Jax · 15 Oct, 03:13
In this story: China · Laos · Vientiane · Vietnam · South China Sea · Cambodia · Greg Poling · Center for Strategic and International Studies
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