China has opened a new military support and training centre in Laos, marking the latest addition to Beijing’s growing network of overseas defence facilities and deepening its security ties with Southeast Asian partners.
According to China’s Ministry of National Defence, the newly operational facilities include the China–Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China–Laos Friendship Aviation Academy, both located at an airport in Ban Keun, Laos. Chinese officials said the centres are intended to improve the training of Lao Air Force personnel and strengthen practical military cooperation between the two countries.
Beijing stated that the facilities will be jointly maintained and operated by China and Laos. While Chinese authorities did not disclose details about the number of personnel involved, the equipment stationed there, or the exact capabilities of the site, officials described the project as part of broader efforts to enhance defence collaboration and develop aviation training capacity.
The development is significant because it further extends China’s military presence beyond its borders. In recent years, Beijing has steadily expanded its overseas defence infrastructure, reflecting its growing economic and strategic influence. China already operates a military logistics base in Djibouti, its first officially acknowledged overseas military base, and has established another joint support and training facility at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base.
Chinese officials insisted that the activities in Laos are “not directed against any third party” and are aimed at promoting regional peace, stability and cooperation. However, defence analysts are likely to view the new facility as another indication of China’s efforts to build a broader security network across Asia and beyond.
For Laos, the project highlights increasingly close ties with Beijing, which is already a major investor in the country through infrastructure and connectivity projects, including rail links under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The opening of the new centre comes at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific, where military partnerships, strategic access and regional influence have become increasingly important. As China expands its overseas footprint, neighbouring countries and global powers will be closely watching how these facilities evolve and what role they play in the region’s future security architecture.