We have a thread on Afghanistan and one on the Iraq/ ISIS/ Syria fight, so I thought I'd start one on a hot but little know series of topics in Africa (piracy, terrorism, etc.). First up, Chinese expansion near an existing US base.
China sends troops to Djibouti, establishes first overseas military base - CNN.com
While it has long operated in the area, this gives China a major support/ ISR hub in the region.
China sends troops to Djibouti, establishes first overseas military base - CNN.com
(CNN) China has dispatched troops to Djibouti in advance of formally establishing the country's first overseas military base.
"Certainly this is the People's Liberation Army's first overseas base and we will base troops there. It's not a commercial resupply point... This base can support Chinese Navy to go farther, so it means a lot," said the paper.
The Global Times said the main role of the base would be to support Chinese warships operating in the region in anti-piracy and humanitarian operations.
"China has been deploying naval ships to waters off Somalia in the Gulf of Aden to conduct escorting missions since 2008," said Geng. "The completion and operation of the base will help China better fulfill its international obligations in conducting escorting missions and humanitarian assistance ... It will also help promote economic and social development in Djibouti."
China has expanded its military ties across Africa in recent years. According to a report by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), cooperation with Africa on peace and security is now an "explicit part of Beijing's foreign policy."
In 2015 Chinese President Xi Jinping committed 8,000 troops to the UN peacekeeping standby force — one fifth of the 40,000 total troops committed by 50 nations — China also pledged $100 million to the African Union standby force and $1 billion to establish the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund.
While it has long operated in the area, this gives China a major support/ ISR hub in the region.