Hong Kong, Oct. 5 -- China's first overseas military base was set up in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa in 2017, but it now also has access to two bases in Southeast Asia. One is a naval facility in Cambodia, and the latest revelation is of a newly built air base in neighbouring Laos.

The news of the Laos base came as a surprise, with China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) revealing its existence on 29 September 2026. It stated on social media that "the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center at Ban Keun Airport in Laos and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy officially went into operation".

An official ceremony was graced by Laotian Defense Minister Khamlieng Outhakayson. Incidentally, the opening of the new base comes a...