China has inaugurated a new air force support and training centre in Laos, marking its third overseas military outpost and representing a strategic expansion of its presence in Southeast Asia. The China-Laos Joint Support and Training Centre and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy began operations at Ban Keun Airport, located in the northwestern Vientiane province approximately 45 kilometers from the Laotian capital. Both facilities are intended to assist the Laotian Air Force in training its pilots, according to a statement from China’s defence ministry.
The institutions will be jointly managed by China and Laos, although the defence ministry did not disclose specifics regarding personnel numbers or equipment deployed at the airport. The centre reportedly follows a model similar to the China-Cambodia Joint Training and Support Centre that opened last year at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, underscoring a gradual approach by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to expanding its foreign military footprint.
China described the construction and operation of the Ban Keun facilities as the result of mutual respect and equal consultation, asserting that the activities comply with the domestic laws of both nations as well as international law and practices. The statement emphasized that the centre does not target any third country and is intended to enhance military cooperation and maintain regional peace and stability.
Analysts highlight the significance of this development as China’s first acknowledged overseas military facility focused on air power, contrasting with its prior naval-oriented outposts in Djibouti and Cambodia. Brian Hart, deputy director of the CSIS China Power Project, noted that the site at Ban Keun could evolve into a deeper PLA presence over time, similar to incremental expansions observed at China’s Djibouti base since its establishment in 2017. Commercial satellite imagery indicates that construction at Ban Keun began around October 2022 and progressed rapidly, with the longest runway measuring approximately 2,000 meters.
The location of Ban Keun Airport is strategically important given its position on the Indochina Peninsula near key maritime routes, including those tied to the Maritime Silk Road. Timothy Heath, head of defence research firm Perceptum, pointed out Southeast Asia’s growing economic role and suggested that the new centre complements China’s broader regional interests. He also noted that both the Laos air base and the Cambodian naval facility are situated near the South China Sea, a vital corridor for China’s trade.
However, both analysts emphasize differences between these Chinese overseas installations and traditional U.S. military bases. Heath stressed that China does not have formal alliances with Laos or Cambodia, and thus these facilities lack combat operational capabilities comparable to American bases. Hart outlined indicators to watch for an expanded PLA presence, such as the duration of Chinese personnel deployments, exclusive Chinese access areas, and the operational balance between Chinese and Laotian forces. The Lao People’s Liberation Army Air Force currently operates a modest fleet, primarily consisting of transport helicopters and light jet trainers.
China’s overseas military developments have drawn scrutiny from the United States and its allies, who remain alert to Beijing’s expanding influence in strategic regions. The establishment of the Ban Keun centre follows similar moves by China, including the Djibouti naval logistics base and the Cambodia joint naval training centre, reflecting a broader pattern of measured growth in China’s international military footprint.