China expands overseas military presence with new Laos air force centre

China has established a new air force support and training centre in Laos, according to the Ministry of Defence. The China-Laos Joint Support and Training Centre and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy now operate at Ban Keun Airport, aiming to assist the Laotian Air Force with pilot training. Both institutions will be jointly managed and operated by both nations, though specific details on personnel or equipment stationed there are not provided.

This development represents a strategic expansion of China's limited overseas military presence in Southeast Asia, following a similar joint naval facility in Cambodia. The ministry emphasized that the construction and operation of these facilities adhere to domestic laws and international standards, and do not target any third party.

They are expected to enhance military cooperation between the two countries and contribute to regional peace and stability. Ban Keun Airport, located in northwest Laos near the capital Vientiane, has a runway measuring approximately 2,000 meters. Its construction began around October of the previous year and expanded significantly by September.

The location's history includes its use during the Laotian and Vietnam wars as a tactical support site in the US network of airstrips. China's overseas military projects have previously drawn attention from Western nations and their allies. Beijing's first overseas military outpost, a naval logistics base in Djibouti, began operations in 2017 to support anti-piracy missions.

Last year, China inaugurated the China-Cambodia Joint Training and Support Centre at Cambodia's Ream Naval Base, which remains open to foreign visits. The Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force currently operates a small fleet of under 40 aircraft, mostly transport helicopters and light jet trainers, lacking modern fighter jets.

Laos and China have enjoyed close ties for decades, with increased cooperation in recent years, including the opening of the China-Laos railway in 2021, significantly improving connectivity between the two nations.