China launches air‑force training hub in Laos, widening its overseas military reach

China began operating a new air‑force training and logistics complex at Ban Keun Airport north of Vientiane late last month, marking the first time the Chinese air arm has a dedicated facility abroad. The site, paired with a newly created China‑Laos aviation academy, will mainly train Lao pilots and will be run jointly by the two governments. The move adds to a modest set of Chinese overseas bases that includes a naval hub in Djibouti opened in 2017 and a recent upgrade of Cambodia’s Ream naval facility. Both Laos and Cambodia are viewed as Beijing’s closest allies in Southeast Asia, and defence ties with them have grown sharply in recent years. A statement from China’s defence ministry said the two institutions are not aimed at any third party and are intended to deepen military cooperation while supporting regional peace and stability. Experts note the infrastructure gives Beijing the option to turn the site into a more permanent presence, giving it political leverage over Vientiane if it seeks exclusive use. Laos has become heavily reliant on Chinese loans, with the IMF estimating public debt at about 81 % of GDP last year and China as the top bilateral creditor. In 2020 a Chinese state utility took a 90 % stake in the country’s main electricity transmission company. The base could help China offset its limited overseas footprint by providing a location for training, equipment upkeep and possible pre‑positioning of supplies, though its landlocked position limits direct power projection. Vietnam has warned that the development may complicate its defence planning by tightening China’s strategic perimeter in the region.

Context

China’s overseas military sites remain few, so each new location is closely watched for how it might shift regional power balances. A landlocked base like Ban Keun can support training but cannot replace sea‑based facilities for power projection.