China opens ‘military support centre’ in Laos - Bangkok Post

A satellite image taken on Sept 2, 2026 shows construction of an airport in Ban Keun, where China’s Ministry of National Defence says it has opened a joint military support and training centre, in Vientiane province of Laos. (Photo: Vantor via Reuters) ⁠China has opened ​a new military support and training centre in ​Laos, the Ministry ‌of National Defence said in Beijing as it announced a rare overseas expansion.

The China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation ​Academy are ⁠now operational at an airport in Ban Keun, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The two institutions, ‌jointly maintained and operated by both sides, aim to help Laos strengthen the training of its air force pilots,” ⁠the statement said.

The Lao People’s Liberation Army Air Force has a fleet of around 30 to 40 active aircraft, mostly utility and transport helicopters, plus a small number of light jet trainers and attack aircraft.

The Laos embassy in Bangkok did ​not respond to a request for comment about the new facility.

China operates ​another joint ‌training and support centre at the Ream naval base in Cambodia on the Gulf of ​Thailand, ⁠and a logistics base in Djibouti.

Cambodia has denied that Chinese troops ⁠are stationed at Ream, but the United States has raised concerns about an expanded Chinese presence there.

In its statement, China’s Ministry ⁠of National Defence said the ​operations in Laos are “not directed against any third party and aim to help further deepen practical cooperation between the two militaries and ‌contribute to maintaining ⁠peace and stability in ​the region”.

Neither government has released details on the personnel or military hardware to be based at the facility.