China has sent two warships to the Republic of Djibouti in Africa, where it will open its first overseas naval base:
China has dispatched troops to Djibouti in advance of formally establishing the country's first overseas military base. Two Chinese Navy warships left the port of Zhanjiang on Tuesday, taking an undisclosed number of military personnel on the journey across the Indian Ocean.
An editorial Wednesday in the state-run Global Times stressed the importance of the new Djibouti facility -- in the strategically located Horn of Africa -- to the Chinese military. "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. "It's not about seeking to control the world," said the editorial.
Also at The Atlantic and Xinhua (newer article).
Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
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Reuters reports that the Pentagon is quietly building up a small airstrip in a remote region of east Africa that is a complex microcosm of how Washington runs military operations overseas — and how America's way of war will probably look for the foreseeable future. Chabelley Airfield is less than 10 miles from the capital of the small African nation of Djibouti but the small airport is the hub for America's drone operations in the nearby hotspots of Somalia and Yemen as part of its war against Islamic militants. "The U.S. military is being pressured into considering the adoption of more of a lily pad basing model in the wake of so much turbulence and warfare across the region," says Dr. Geoffrey Gresh. "Djibouti is a small, relatively safe ... ally that enables the U.S. special operators to carry out missions effectively across the continent."
In September 2013, the Pentagon announced it was moving the pilotless aircraft from its main base at Camp Lemonnier to Chabelley with almost no fanfare. Africom and the Pentagon jealously guard information about their outposts in Africa, making it impossible to ascertain even basic facts — like a simple count — let alone just how many are integral to JSOC operations, drone strikes, and other secret activities. However a map in a Pentagon report indicates that there were 10 MQ-1 Predator drones and four larger, more far-ranging MQ-9 Reapers based at Camp Lemonnier in June 2012 before the move to Chabelley.
The Pentagon does not list Chabelley in its annual Base Structure Report, the only official compendium of American military facilities around the world. "The Chebelley base ... [is] a reflection of the growing presence of the U.S. military in Africa," says Dr. David Vine, author of 'Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World". "The [U.S.] military has gone to great lengths to disguise and downplay its growing presence in Africa generally in the hopes of avoiding negative attention and protests both in the U.S. and in African countries wary of the colonial-esque presence of foreign troops."
American drones fly regular missions from Chabelley, an airstrip the French run with the approval of the Djiboutian government. Washington pays Djibouti for access to Paris' outpost. Part of the reason for this circuitous chain of responsibility could be the fact that the Pentagon's drone missions are often controversial.
Critics contend targeted strikes against militants are illegal under American and international law and tantamount to assassination. "The military is easily capable of adapting to change, but they don't like to stop anything they feel is making their lives easier, or is to their benefit. And this certainly is, in their eyes, a very quick, clean way of doing things. It's a very slick, efficient way to conduct the war, without having to have the massive ground invasion mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan."
US warns China after lasers injure American pilots in Africa
The United States has issued a formal warning to China after personnel at the Asian country's military base in Djibouti used lasers to interfere with U.S. military aircraft, minorly injuring two pilots, according to the Pentagon.
Top Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White told reporters Thursday that the U.S. is confident the Chinese are behind the "very serious incidents," which have increased in the past few weeks.
"There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen. We have formally demarched the Chinese government. And we've requested that that Chinese investigate these incidents," White said during a Pentagon briefing.
The U.S. government, meanwhile, has warned airmen to be cautious when flying in certain areas in Djibouti, in Africa, due to the recent incidents.
Also at CNN.
Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base
Chinese Companies to Build Commercial Spaceport on the Horn of Africa
The Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group (HKATG) and a Shanghai-based Touchroad International Holdings Group have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Djibouti to build a $1 billion commercial spaceport with seven launch pads and three rocket engine test facilities.
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with company officials on Monday to discuss the planned Djiboutian Spaceport, which will be constructed in the northern Obock region near the entrance to the Red Sea. It would be the first orbital spaceport in Africa.
[...] HKATG and the Djiboutian government will manage the spaceport for a period of 30 years. The government will then take control over the facility.
Construction of the spaceport is expected to begin after the parties sign a formal agreement in March. The project is expected to take five years.
The Djiboutian government said the project will require the development of a port facility, a network of highways, and a power grid.
See also: Rocket Report: SpaceX reaches 'ludicrous' cadence; ABL explains RS1 failure
Previously:
A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base
U.S. Complains That Chinese Military Personnel Are Injuring American Pilots With Lasers in Africa
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @05:58AM (11 children)
How DARE they plaster bases all over the world like some kind of mad empire!
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:00AM
DEATH to SOYLENT NIGGER NEWS
(Score: 3, Funny) by Lagg on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:31AM (9 children)
This is not going to cause any change in Chinese expansionist policy! We must be increasingly on the alert to prevent them taking over our base space! Thus knocking us out with superior numbers when they emerge! Mr. AC, WE MUST NOT ALLOW A BASE GAP
http://lagg.me [lagg.me] 🗿
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:37AM (1 child)
China has a population of well over a billion with a large imbalance of males over females. This is a global problem like Muslim extremism - they will export their demographic problem outward.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by Runaway1956 on Thursday July 13 2017, @01:44PM
"This is a global problem like Muslim extremism"
Hardly. There is good and bad to be said about the Chinese, but they aren't a very violent people. Muslims, on the other hand, thrive on violence. In fact, they rely on violence to keep their population under control - or as much under control as it is.
And, while you're worrying about demographics, a lot of non-Chinese women are going to learn to love their Chinese special other.
Forgive me if I don't get terribly excited about a lot of Chinese guys taking the women in Africa. Some of you butt ugly guys may have problems though. And, in the process, if you butt uglies aren't breeding, but the more civilized Chinese are, the world may actually improve a little.
Abortion is the number one killed of children in the United States.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:38AM (5 children)
Chinese already have superior numbers and they could zerg rush any country except india and win.
New plan: arrange for china and india to go to war causing every indian and chinese to be drafted and destroying both populations; then america can be great again!!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:58AM
Throw Russia in - India is still no match for China by herself, especially with Pakistan lined up with China. Three-way gangbang for all-out annilhilation.
#MAGA
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @07:02AM (3 children)
Been tried before, Sino-Indian War, Google it.
The jolly japes of Empire eh?, let's draw lines on maps and cause trouble...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @07:10AM (2 children)
Yes but this time let's have a war of attrition to cut the population down to more manageable numbers, like kill 950 million chinese and kill another 950 million indians, that should just about do it.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @08:42AM (1 child)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 14 2017, @02:37AM
Somehow I doubt the other AC deems that a problem.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday July 14 2017, @02:29AM
It's OK, most Americans don't even know where Djelibeybi, let alone care that the Agatean Empire is planning to build a base there.
(Score: 2) by marcello_dl on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:45AM (7 children)
> "It's not about seeking to control the world"
I didn't know they had such a fine sense of humour.
Everything the elites do is about control.
the true circles of hell can be described as recognition -> money -> wealth -> power -> control.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:49AM
As an AC truly I am better than you because I don't even receive recognition. I'm safe from hell, while you burn! Burn in hell!
(Score: 3, Insightful) by kaszz on Thursday July 13 2017, @07:33AM (5 children)
They are obviously acutely aware of the suspicions so they try to mitigate them by "oh, we won't do anything bad. Promise!". So what they say they won't do is what it will be about when the push comes to shove.
(Score: 1) by DavePolaschek on Thursday July 13 2017, @01:45PM (4 children)
Is that like Google's "Don't Be Evil" ?
HHOS.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday July 13 2017, @02:14PM (3 children)
It's worse because they try to mislead about their intentions from the start. Of course they won't bother with a military base unless it gives them something back. Like a stronger military power. And the rationale is likely to protect "Chinese" business that is in the resource extraction business.
So more like "We shoot you if you stop Chinese proxies".
(Score: 2) by srobert on Friday July 14 2017, @03:43AM (1 child)
It's disconcerting that anyone other than the Americans are being permitted to extract wealth from Africa. Trump should do something about that.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Friday July 14 2017, @04:17AM
I'll guess that's called self interest? :-)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday July 14 2017, @04:13AM
You're just jealous that China has intentions that go beyond next quarters numbers, or Friday drinks after work. Go back to playing regime change in the Mid East and leave the rest of Africa for the Chinese.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday July 13 2017, @07:30AM (2 children)
China has officially sent two warships and some undisclosed to the Colony of Djibouti in Africa, where it will open its first overseas foothold base:
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday July 13 2017, @05:25PM (1 child)
To the former French colony of Djibouti, where the French, Japan and the US have military bases?
Totally the first place I would invade if I wanted to be discreet.
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday July 13 2017, @06:48PM
Perhaps not invade but making their power known. "We are here and can fuck with you at will". France, Japan and US are more or less in the same sphere of interest. And while they might have differences, they are of little concern compared to those countries vs China.
As a side note Djibouti probably makes a very good economical deal by having those bases there. Besides deterring any neighboring countries from invasion.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @08:05AM
It would had been much more tech news worthy if they created an floating artificial island military and naval resupply depot base with heavy armament *cough*death star^Wisland*cough*, which could be positioned anywhere , by any shore or even in the middle of an ocean.
Sure something of an island size would be slow to reposition (and impossible to save if it drifted into shallows), but still much faster then continental plates drift.
As a bonus, civilian versions could be sold to island nations threatened by sea level rising.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @09:38AM (2 children)
When I first read "People's Liberation Army" the first thought that came to mind was "The People's Front of Judea."
(Score: 1) by j-beda on Thursday July 13 2017, @02:00PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WboggjN_G-4 [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Thursday July 13 2017, @02:18PM
More like "People's Suppression Tool" :p
Not that it's that much different in other countries.
(Score: 1, Troll) by acid andy on Thursday July 13 2017, @09:41AM (1 child)
I remember a planet called Digebiti [alioth.net]. It was quite a dangerous place.
Master of the science of the art of the science of art.
(Score: 1) by RandomFactor on Thursday July 13 2017, @08:28PM
One more word out of you, Djibouti....
В «Правде» нет известий, в «Известиях» нет правды
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 13 2017, @05:34PM
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Friday July 14 2017, @06:10AM
I mean, seriously. Lets let China stick their noses into a shithole worse than 100 Afghanistans. We have a few 10's of thousands of troops in Afghanistan, let them have a few million in Africa.
The good? China gets a nosebleed.
The bad? China settles the region.
The RealWorldPolitik: China gets a nosebleed, settles the region, and gets military bases in some nifty places
Relationship status: Available for curbside pickup.