http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1876998/chinese-military-chief-visits-horn-africa-amid-reports
Chinese military chief visits Horn of Africa Djibouti amid reports
China may set up base in the region
The general is visiting to inspect Chinese warship, defence ministry says
PUBLISHED : Monday, 09 November, 2015, 12:42pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 10 November, 2015, 3:44am
Reuters in Beijing
A senior Chinese military officer is visiting the Horn of Africa
country Djibouti where he inspected a Chinese warship participating in
anti-piracy patrols, China’s Defence Ministry said, following a report
China wants a military base there.
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh told French media in May his
government was in talks with China about a base, adding Beijing’s
presence would be welcome in the former French colony, which borders
Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
The Chinese government would neither confirm or deny the report.
READ MORE: China discussing Horn of Africa military base, says
Djibouti president
The United States and France already have bases in the country and its
port has been used by foreign navies, including China’s, participating
in the fight against Somali pirates.
People’s Liberation Army Chief of Staff General Fang Fenghui visited
the Chinese warship Sanya while it was replenishing supplies in
Djibouti, China’s Defence Ministry said.
Fang praised the performance of Chinese service personnel involved in
the patrols, saying they showed how China was assuming its role as a
responsible major country, the ministry said.
Fang was accompanied by deputy Chinese air force chief Zhang Jianping,
the statement added. It made no mention of any Chinese base plans.
In an effort to dampen fears about Chinese plans connected to its
increasingly modern and confident military, Beijing has repeatedly
said it does not want military bases abroad.
Chinese officials distanced themselves from comments by a rear
admiral, Wu Shengli in 2009, who urged the nation to set up navy
supply bases overseas for the anti-piracy fight. Wu is now China’s
naval chief.
READ MORE: China outlines overseas assets it will protect
Chinese ships have undertaken anti-piracy operations off the coast of
Somalia since late 2008 and in early 2010 Beijing agreed to join the
multi-nation effort to protect shipping in the Gulf of Aden and nearby
stretches of the Indian Ocean.
Experts have said China is likely one day to have to overcome its
discomfort about overseas military bases, as its forces are drawn into
protecting the growing interests of the world’s second-largest
economy.
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as
PLA officer in Djibouti after base talk
Received on Wed Nov 11 2015 - 22:09:49 EST