China opens training center with Laos, marking third overseas military base

Low-resolution satellite photo of the Chinese airbase opened at Ban Keun, Laos. (Sentinel Hub)

SINGAPORE — China has announced the opening of a new airbase in Laos, described as a joint training center but marking its third overseas military base, and the second in Southeast Asia.

China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on social media that the China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center at Ban Keun Airport in Laos and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy started operation s today.

“The establishment and operation of the two institutions reflect mutual respect and equal consultation between China and Laos, aligning with domestic laws of both countries, as well as international law and common practices,” the MND said the announcement.

The new post, the MND said, is “not directed against any third party and aim to help further deepen practical cooperation between the two militaries and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region.”

The People’s Liberation Army currently operates a military facility at Djibouti in East Africa that opened in 2017, as well as a naval facility at Ream in Cambodia .

The MND added that the new facility, located at Ban Keun some 25 miles (40 kilometres) north of the Laotian capital Vientiane, would be jointly operated and maintained by both countries and used to train Laotian pilots.

A video posted by the MND said that the opening ceremony was attended by Laotian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Khamlieng Outhakayson.

Based on satellite photos on Google Earth, the new airbase appears to have been built partially over the location of an airfield previously known as Lima Site 44, one of a network of airfields and other outposts built in Laos by the US military and Central Intelligence Agency during the Vietnam War, according to Rice, Refugees and Rooftops , a 15-volume book by former Air America helicopter pilot Harry Richard Casterlin .

The Google Earth photos showed the runway in the early stages of construction in January, however lower-resolution satellite photos of the base from imagery firm Sentinel Hub taken on September 22 showed an approximately 2,000 meter (6,560-foot) runway has been built, with an aircraft parking apron and five hangars at the north end of the base.

这张低分辨率卫星照片显示的是位于老挝班肯的中国空军基地。（Sentinel Hub）

新加坡——中国宣布在老挝开设一个新的空军基地，该基地被描述为联合训练中心，但标志着中国在海外的第三个军事基地，也是在东南亚的第二个军事基地。

中国国防部在社交媒体上表示，位于老挝班根机场的中老联合支援训练中心和中老友好航空学院今天正式投入运营。

国防部在公告中表示：“这两个机构的设立和运作体现了中老两国之间的相互尊重和平等协商，符合两国国内法、国际法和惯例。”

国防部表示，这一新举措“并非针对任何第三方，旨在帮助进一步深化两军之间的务实合作，并为维护该地区的和平与稳定做出贡献”。

中国人民解放军目前在东非吉布提设有一个军事设施（于 2017 年启用），并在柬埔寨里姆设有一个海军设施。

国防部补充说，这座位于老挝首都万象以北约 40 公里（25 英里）的班肯的新设施将由两国共同运营和维护，用于培训老挝飞行员。

老挝国防部发布的一段视频称，老挝副总理兼国防部长坎连·乌塔凯森出席了开幕式。

根据谷歌地球上的卫星照片，据前美国航空公司直升机飞行员哈里·理查德·卡斯特林所著的15卷本著作《赖斯、难民和屋顶》记载，这座新的空军基地似乎部分建在以前被称为利马44号机场的旧址上。利马44号机场是美国军方和中央情报局在越南战争期间在老挝建造的一系列机场和其他前哨站之一。

谷歌地球照片显示，1 月份跑道还处于建设初期，但 9 月 22 日，图像公司 Sentinel Hub 拍摄的基地低分辨率卫星照片显示，已经建成了一条约 2000 米（6560 英尺）长的跑道，基地北端还有一个飞机停机坪和五个机库。