People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti
| People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti | |
|---|---|
中国人民解放军驻吉布提保障基地 | |
| Near Balbala in Djibouti | |
Emblem of the PLA support base in Djibouti | |
Naval ensign of China | |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Central Military Commission |
| Operator | People's Liberation Army Navy |
| Controlled by | China |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 11°35′15″N 43°03′39″E / 11.58747°N 43.06082°E |
| Area | 0.5 km2 |
| Site history | |
| Built | March 2016 |
| In use | August 1, 2017 |
| Garrison information | |
| Current commander | Liang Yang |
| Occupants | 1,000–2,000 navy personnel |
| People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese | 中国人民解放军驻吉布提保障基地 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | China People Liberation Army in-Djibouti Support Base | ||||||
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The People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti is a military base operated by China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), located in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. It is the PLAN's first overseas military base and was built at a cost of US$590 million. The facility is expected to significantly increase China's power projection in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean, as well as the PLAN's blue water capabilities.
The People's Liberation Army Navy has used the base to conduct anti-piracy operations off of the coast of Djibouti and around the Horn of Africa. It is also expected to take part in activities such as intelligence collection, non-combat evacuation operations, peacekeeping operations support and counterterrorism. As of 2017, the base commander is Liang Yang.
Djibouti is strategically situated by the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which separates the Gulf of Aden from the Red Sea and guards the approaches to the Suez Canal. The Chinese base is located by the Chinese-operated Port of Doraleh to the west of Djibouti City. To the south of the city are several other foreign military bases, including Camp Lemonnier (United States Navy), Base Aérienne 188 (French Air Force), and the Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti.