Key facts
- Satellite images show attack jets at a new Chinese military facility in Laos.
- The facility at Ban Keun airport opened on September 29.
- Eight light attack aircraft, identified as Hongdu JL-8 jets, are stationed at the base.
- The base represents China's first military foothold in mainland Southeast Asia capable of handling fighter jets.
- The airport has been significantly expanded over the past year.
- China's defense ministry stated the center would help Laos train pilots and was not directed against any third party.
Satellite images have revealed attack jets stationed at a newly established Chinese military facility in Laos, marking Beijing's first air base in mainland Southeast Asia. The facility, located at Ban Keun airport approximately 50km north of the capital Vientiane, reportedly opened on September 29.
Images provided by commercial satellite provider Vantor show eight light attack aircraft, identified as Hongdu JL-8 jets, alongside more than a dozen military vehicles. The Hongdu JL-8 is a two-seat trainer capable of combat deployment with bombs. The International Institute for Strategic Studies reports Laos possesses four such aircraft.
The Ban Keun airport has undergone significant expansion over the past year, transforming from farmland to a site with new buildings and a paved runway. Satellite images indicate ongoing construction focused on a future runway extension, which could accommodate larger aircraft like bombers.
China's defense ministry stated the new center would "help Laos strengthen the training of its air force pilots" and was "not directed against any third party." However, security analysts like Collin Koh have described it as the first full-fledged People's Liberation Army (PLA) overseas base in Southeast Asia. China's military expansion has primarily focused on island bases in the South China Sea, with its only other overseas military base being a logistics base in Djibouti. A similar "joint logistics and training" facility was established in Cambodia at the Ream naval base.
Governments, particularly Vietnam and Thailand, are closely monitoring the developments for signs of wider military ambitions. Thailand's defense ministry spokesperson acknowledged Laos' sovereign right to grant permission for the base but stated Thailand would monitor developments to build mutual trust. The US-based Institute for the Study of War noted the base is not yet equipped for major combat operations but could provide China with alternate routes to the South China Sea and strategic air routes.