Home › Defence & Aerospace › China says its military base in Djibouti may harm America’s vital interests in Africa

China says its military base in Djibouti may harm America’s vital interests in Africa

By chankaiyee2 on May 12, 2015 • ( 1 )

Map of Djibouti

The following is based on a translation of a report in Chinese media:

Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported that according to AFP, President Guelleh of Djibouti, a small eastern African country, said that his country was discussing with China the establishment of a base in Djibouti for maintaining China’s navigation security and overseas interests.

Guelleh welcomed China’s intention to set up a military base in his country.

This will be China’s first military base outside the Chinese mainland.

It shows Chinese progress in having friendly countries willing to allow the establishment of overseas military bases.

However, huanqiu.com, which also carries Lianhe Zaobao’s report, says that China expects the US and India to oppose China’s establishment of a military base there.

Such a base may hurt America’s vital interests in Africa, as it is near an American military base.

The report says that China will not set up a large naval base in a sovereign state abroad, to avoid alarming the US and India.

Other reports say it could be a logistic base for the Chinese navy, but military sources have not confirmed this.

Contributed by Tiananmen’s Tremendous Achievements