China sets sights on offshore military depots

By Minnie Chan
Wednesday, May 13, 2015

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China is expected to set up a network of offshore military supply depots in strategic ports to protect its national interests, according to military analysts.

While it was unlikely that those depots would become fully fledged military bases, Beijing did see the need for a stronger presence abroad as it rolled out its "One Belt, One Road" initiative, the analysts said.

"It's inevitable that more overseas supply ports will be set up in Africa and other strategic areas as China's national interests expand," Li Jie, a naval expert at the Chinese Naval Research Institute, said.

Li said the depots would be limited to providing supplies to China's fleet, or sending peacekeeping forces rather than for deploying combat forces. "China has been thinking about building an integrated supply depot in Djibouti since President Xi Jinping proposed his 'One Belt, One Road' programme, because the port has the potential to revive China's ambitious New Silk Road initiatives."

Li's remarks came after reports this week that China was negotiating with Djibouti to build a base in the country. Ismail Omar Guelleh, the president of the African state, told Agence France-Presse that a Chinese naval presence in its main port would be welcome.

Djibouti oversees the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the channel separating Africa from Arabia and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that she had "noted" the reports, adding that China was willing to help maintain regional peace. The defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

Djibouti is a former French colony that borders Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia. The US and France both have bases in the country and various navies, including China's, have used its port facilities during missions against Somali pirates.

Last month, Chinese naval vessels evacuated 613 Chinese citizens and 279 foreigners from Yemen amid worsening security in the country. All the Chinese nationals were shipped to Djibouti's military base and flown back home.

"Recent crises such as last month's evacuation of Chinese citizens from Yemen show that Djibouti plays an important role in logistics," Li said.

A source close to the People's Liberation Army said the PLA's involvement in a 2008 anti-piracy mission prompted some African countries, including Somalia, to suggest that the Chinese navy set up depots on their soil.

"But the then central leadership rejected the idea, saying overseas military bases would contravene China's pledge to never seek hegemony," the source said.

Shanghai-based defence expert Ni Lexiong said Beijing changed its mind after the US and Japan revised a bilateral security treaty to include the Diaoyu Islands, also known as the Senkakus. Li said the Gwadar port in Pakistan was also likely to become a military depot.

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