Did you know that China Retools Its Military With a First Overseas Outpost in Djibouti?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 07:24:44 -0500

Did you know that China Retools Its Military With a First Overseas Outpost in Djibouti?

RP Members should we be concerned with China's expansion into the African Continent?

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/27/world/asia/china-military-presence-djibouti-africa.html?_r=0

BEIJING — China announced on Thursday that it would establish its first overseas military outpost and unveiled a sweeping plan to reorganize its military into a more agile force capable of projecting power abroad.

The outpost, in the East African nation of Djibouti, breaks with Beijing’s longstanding policy against emulating the United States in building military facilities abroad.

The Foreign Ministry refrained from describing the new installation as a military base, saying it would be used to resupply Chinese Navy ships that have been participating in United Nations antipiracy missions.

Yet by establishing an outpost in the Horn of Africa — more than 4,800 miles away from Beijing and near some of the world’s most volatile regions — President Xi Jinping is leading the military beyond its historical focus on protecting the nation’s borders.

China Retools Its Military With a First Overseas Outpostin Djibouti

China said a facility in the East African nation would serve to resupply its naval ships taking part in antipiracy missions.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 27 at 2015 7:27 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 07:27:29 -0500

When America stands down, other nations rush in to fill the vacuum we leave behind us.
Usually nations without our best interests at heart.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 10:07 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 10:07:39 -0500

Only time will tell whether this is a positive thing or not.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 27 at 2015 11:36 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 11:36:45 -0500

I just wonder if this new base will be anywhere near the US Navy base in Djibouti!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Nov 27 at 2015 12:37 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 12:37:30 -0500

No COL Mikel J. Burroughs I did not know that China established its first overseas outpost in Djibouti. The Chinese have been retooling their military and defense industries for along time.
This may well be the first overt establishment of an overpost outpost for he Chinese military; but, their expansions into the Spratly Islands would be considered by many to be an establishment of overseas bases.
Almost certainly they have covertly established operating bases for covert operations throughout Asia for decades.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Nov 27 at 2015 12:46 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 12:46:48 -0500

Power projection. Unfortunately for the USA, China is doing much to prove they are the leading nation for the future. In energy production/acquisition and military technology and spreading over the globe.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 2:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 14:29:46 -0500

The Chinese have been constructing port facilities and infrastructure to support it for a couple years now. It is very modest, about 500 meters square with one solid concrete quay. It is not deep water there, so they'll need to dredge a lot in order to get anything with a deep draft in there.

While there are ramifications for China establishing a forward base, this is a very modest facility.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Nov 27 at 2015 2:37 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 14:37:01 -0500

We should be watching/monitoring to see how this plays out, but worried about it in a flustered sense, no. Making a show of power is more than just placing men and machines at pre positioned points. And as with Russia quantity not quality is on their side.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Nov 30 at 2015 5:51 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:51:59 -0500

Sp4 Byron Skinner. I agree with the last sentence 100%. The Chinese are over reaching. That said the Chinese have no shown the world that in has the Expeditionary capabilities to fight or even support a non combat deployment out side its territorial borders. So far the Chinese efforts to become involved in international collations like the Russian doesn't exist. Both the Russian and Chinese can lay claim to being no more then a third or forth rate power. Before all of you soil you drawers France, Britain, Japan and India all have superior militaries to China. China since the Ming Dynasty has been purely a ground power. Nobody is interested other then perhaps the Russians to engage the Chinese in a land war. A Naval conflict with the US would only last a couple of hours and that is with out using the nuclear option.
"Olde Chinese saying. "One carrier is a demonstration, two carriers are a problem."

Response by PFC Roger Goff made Jul 13 at 2017 7:27 AM

PFC Roger Goff — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:27:22 -0400

I saw on the news just this morning that China has its base in Djibouti.

Looks like a choke point they have oversight of now. Just what the region needed...not!

Response by Cpl Armando Mireles made Jul 13 at 2017 10:28 AM

Cpl Armando Mireles — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 10:28:32 -0400

Very interesting and a cause for concern.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Jul 13 at 2017 1:18 PM

Capt Dwayne Conyers — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 13:18:43 -0400

China is one of many nations (including the USA) to exploit the African continent for its resources.

Response by MSgt Jason McClish made Jul 13 at 2017 4:55 PM

MSgt Jason McClish — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 16:55:52 -0400

I wouldn't be concerned too much at this point, it's not a very large base from what I've read. We should maintain overwatch on what they're doing like we have been, but this is a first that the US and China militaries will be in such close proximity to each other. For now, let's just raise the concern level only a tad until we get more intel.