China’s First Overseas Base in Djibouti, An Enabler of its Middle East Policy

Although China has yet to achieve superpower status in the realm of security, it is certainly making concerted efforts toward becoming one. On November 26, Chinese Ministry of Defense spokesperson Wu Qian confirmed that China and Djibouti are holding negotiations over the construction of a logistics military base in the Horn of Africa. Observers both in China and abroad have long awaited an announcement of this kind. The visit of the People’s Liberation Army Chief of General Staff Fang Fenghui to the East African country in early November last year was taken as a strong indication that a deal was being negotiated. Many believed it was just a matter of time, although Beijing had dismissed rumors as attempts to fuel the so-called “China threat theory”. Read the article.

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