Chinese naval base in Djibouti

The Chinese naval base in Djibouti is a military base operated by People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People's Republic of China at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. It is the first overseas military base of the PLAN, and was constructed west of Djibouti City, adjacent to the Port of Doraleh. The base was financed primarily by China, costing US$590 million.[1] The facility is expected to significantly increase China's power projection capabilities in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean.[2][3][4] The United States Navy operates its only permanent overseas naval base on the African continent at Camp Lemonnier in Ambouli on the southern side of the Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport; the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force also operates its only overseas base adjacent to Djibouti–Ambouli International Airport.[1]

History

Negotiations for China to create a strategic base in Djibouti began with President Ismail Omar Guelleh in approximately 2015.[5] Negotiations were concluded in January 2016, with China and Djibouti having "reached consensus" on the construction of naval facilities.[6][7]

Construction of the base began in 2016.[8][9] General Thomas D. Waldhauser of AFRICOM reported to the Senate Armed Services Committee that it is estimated that construction will be completed in the summer of 2017.[10]

On July 11, 2017, the People’s Liberation Army Navy dispatched ships from South Sea Fleet Zhanjiang to the base, ceremonially opening it.[11][12] The base was formally opened on August 1, 2017.[13][14]

Function

China has stated that the facility will serve primarily to support military logistics for Chinese troops in the Gulf of Aden, and peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in Africa. It also bolsters the Chinese navy's efforts to prevent piracy on high seas.[2][4][15][16]

The base is reportedly 0.5 square kilometres (0.2 sq mi) in size, and staffed by approximately 1,000 personnel.[17]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Zhou, Laura (April 17, 2017). "How a Chinese investment boom is changing the face of Djibouti". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. About half an hour’s drive west of the restaurant, a Chinese military base is surreptitiously taking shape near the dusty construction site of the China-funded, US$590 million Doraleh Multipurpose Port.
  2. 1 2 Paice, Edward (May 30, 2017). "Djibouti Wins Jackpot – Renting Out Desert for Military Bases". The Cipher Brief. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  3. ↑ Huneke, Douglas (April 19, 2017). "The Ghost of Zheng He: China’s Naval Base in Djibouti". University of California, Berkeley. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Jacobs, Andrew; Perlez, Jane (February 25, 2017). "U.S. Wary of Its New Neighbor in Djibouti: A Chinese Naval Base". The New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ Agence France-Presse (May 9, 2015). "China 'negotiates military base' in Djibouti". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017. China is negotiating a military base in a strategic port of Djibouti, the president said, according to the AFP news agency. [...] "Discussions are ongoing," President Ismail Omar Guelleh said in an interview in Djibouti, saying Beijing's presence would be "welcome".
  6. ↑ Chappell, Bill (January 21, 2016). "China Reaches Deal To Build Military Outpost In Djibouti". NPR. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Cementing a deal that has been hinted at for months, China is moving forward to build what's believed to be its first overseas military facility, in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti. The outpost is meant to bolster the Chinese navy's efforts to prevent piracy. [...] He added that China and Djibouti have "reached consensus" on building the facilities, a plan that Chinese officials spoke about publicly last fall.
  7. ↑ "Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference on January 21, 2016". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. January 21, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. China and Djibouti consulted with each other and reached consensus on building logistical facilities in Djibouti, which will enable the Chinese troops to better fulfill escort missions and make new contributions to regional peace and stability.
  8. ↑ Panda, Ankit (February 29, 2016). "Confirmed: Construction Begins on China's First Overseas Military Base in Djibouti". The Diplomat. Retrieved May 17, 2017. Last week, China’s Ministry of Defense confirmed for the first time that construction on “support facilities” for the People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa, has started. Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Chinese defense ministry, said on Thursday that “construction of infrastructure for the support facilities has started, and the Chinese side has dispatched personnel to Djibouti for relevant work.”
  9. ↑ "Defense Ministry's regular press conference on Feb.25". Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China. February 15, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Through friendly consultations between China and Djibouti, the two sides have reached consensus for China to build support facilities in Djibouti. The facilities will mainly be used for logistical support and personnel recuperation of the Chinese armed forces conducting such missions as maritime escort in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. Currently, construction of infrastructure for the support facilities has started, and the Chinese side has dispatched personnel to Djibouti for relevant work.
  10. ↑ Binnie, Jeremy (March 12, 2017). "AFRICOM commander says China's base in Djibouti to be completed in coming months". Jane's Information Group. Retrieved May 17, 2017. The military base that China is building in Djibouti will be completed "later this summer", General Thomas Waldhauser, the commander of the US military's Africa Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on 9 March.
  11. ↑ Gao, Charlotte (July 12, 2017). "China Officially Sets Up Its First Overseas Base in Djibouti". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. In the early morning of July 11, China held an official ceremony in the port of Zhanjiang, south China’s Guangdong province. The commander of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), Shen Jinlong, “read an order on constructing the base in Djibouti, and conferred military flag on the fleets.” Then Shen ordered, “Set off!” and the ships carrying Chinese military personnel departed the port, reported Xinhua.
  12. ↑ An, ed. (July 11, 2017). "China sets up base in Djibouti". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Ships carrying Chinese military personnel departed Zhanjiang in southern China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday to set up a support base in Djibouti.
  13. ↑ Blanchard, Ben (August 1, 2017). Perry, Michael, ed. "China formally opens first overseas military base in Djibouti". Reuters. Retrieved August 1, 2017. China formally opened its first overseas military base on Tuesday with a flag raising ceremony in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, the same day as the People's Liberation Army marks its 90th birthday, state media said.
  14. ↑ "China's first overseas military base opens in Djibouti". Ecns.cn. 2 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Zhang, Tao, ed. (April 12, 2016). "PLA's first overseas base in Djibouti". China Military Online. Archived from the original on May 18, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  16. ↑ Huang, Kristen (May 13, 2017). "Chinese defence adviser says Djibouti naval facility is a much-needed ‘military base’". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on May 14, 2017. China is constructing a naval base in Djibouti to provide what it calls logistical support in one of the world’s busiest waterways. The defence ministry said in a statement last year that the facility was mostly for resupply purposes for anti-piracy, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations.
  17. ↑ Lin, Jeffrey; Singe, P.W. (July 13, 2017). "China just deployed to its first overseas base". Popular Science. The base—roughly half a square kilometer—is reported to be soon be staffed by about a battalion-size formation, or about 1,000 personnel.

Coordinates: 11°35′25″N 43°03′47″E / 11.59023°N 43.06312°E / 11.59023; 43.06312

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