China's seventh and eighth escort flotillas sail in the Gulf of Aden on March 16, 2011. Photo: Xinhua
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1883599/chinas-military-talks-build-logistics-facilities-horn Diplomacy
China’s military in talks to build logistics ‘facilities’ in Horn of Africa Djibouti
(150331) -- DJIBOUTI, March 31, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Chinese evacuees arrive in Djibouti, March 31, 2015. More than 500 Chinese evacuees from conflict-ridden Yemen have arrived at the Djibouti port as the situation continues to deteriorate in Yemen. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei) (lyi)
Beijing confirmed on Thursday for the first time that it has been in talks with Djibouti to build military logistics “facilities” in the Horn of Africa country to support Chinese peacekeeping and anti-piracy missions.
The remarks were made by the defence and foreign ministries days after Beijing announced President Xi Jinping’s official visit to South Africa and Zimbabwe next week. The facilities would mainly provide logistics services for the People’s Liberation Army’s troops in UN peacekeeping operations in the waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, to resolve issues related to fuelling, rest and reorganisation of troops and food supplies, defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said.
“The escort troops encountered many difficulties … in their [past] missions, and it is necessary to provide [them with] efficient logistics services,” he said.
The United States and France already have bases in the country and its port has been used by foreign navies, including China’s, in the fight against Somali pirates.
To dampen fears about Chinese military expansion, Beijing has long evaded questions on plans to build overseas military bases, repeatedly saying China has no such bases and will never seek expansion.
Wu said the facilities would “help China’s military further carry out its international responsibilities to safeguard global and regional peace and stability”. “Maintaining regional peace and stability accords with the interests of both countries,” he said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei largely repeated the defence ministry’s comments. They did not give further details.
In May, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh said Djibouti was in talks with China about a military base, raising the prospect of Chinese and American bases side by side. “Discussions are ongoing,” Guelleh said.
“France’s presence is old, and the Americans found that the position of Djibouti could help in the fight against terrorism in the region. The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy – and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome.”
This month, PLA Chief of Staff General Fang Fenghui visited the Chinese warship Sanya while it was replenishing supplies in Djibouti, the defence ministry said.
Chinese ships have undertaken anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia since late 2008. In early 2010, Beijing agreed to join the multi-nation effort to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden and nearby stretches of the Indian Ocean.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse and Reuters