China Establishes New Joint Military Support Base in Laos
China Establishes New Joint Military Support Base in Laos BEIJING / VIENTIANE — China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) has expanded its overseas footprint into Southeast Asia with a new joint air force support and training facility in Laos. The site, named the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center , is Beijing's third major foreign military installation, joining outposts in Djibouti (2017) and Cambodia's Ream Naval Base (2025). Facility & Capabilities Located near Ban Keun—approximately 64 kilometers north of Vientiane—construction began in late 2025 on former farmland near a historic Vietnam War-era airstrip (Lima Site 44). By late 2026, satellite imagery confirmed a fully operational facility featuring a ~2,000-meter (6,562 ft) runway , hangars, and logistical barracks. Core Objectives & Strategic Impact Pilot Training & Aviation Support: Hands-on flight instruction, ground handling, and modern maintenance for the Lao People's Army Air Force...