China opens joint military support center in Laos to enhance training

Laos: The Lao People's Democratic Republic is a landlocked Southeast Asian nation that maintains close diplomatic and security relations with China. It is hosting the newly operational China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy at Ban Keun airport to build its air force pilot capabilities through joint efforts. China: The People's Republic of China is a major global power with growing military and security partnerships across Southeast Asia. In this development, its Ministry of National Defence has opened and jointly operates new training facilities in Laos to strengthen bilateral military ties. The ministry stated the centers are intended to enhance practical cooperation without targeting third parties. Josh Smith: Josh Smith is a Reuters journalist based in Bangkok who reports on regional security, military affairs, and international relations in Southeast Asia. He authored the reporting on China's establishment of the joint military support facilities in Laos. Andrew Cawthorne: Andrew Cawthorne is a Reuters editor who oversees coverage of international news, including defense and diplomacy topics. He edited the article detailing the operational launch of the China-Laos joint training centers. China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy: The China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy is a joint institution now active at Ban Keun airport in Laos, focused on air force pilot training. It is operated collaboratively by both nations to build Laotian aviation capabilities through shared resources and instruction. China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center: The China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center is a facility jointly maintained and operated by China and Laos at an airport in Ban Keun. It became operational as part of efforts to deepen military cooperation between the two countries and support training programs. Diplomatic Framing: China's Ministry of National Defence stated that the Laos operations aim to deepen practical military cooperation and contribute to regional peace and stability without targeting any third party. External Reactions: The United States has raised concerns about expanded Chinese military presence at facilities such as the Ream naval base in Cambodia. Regional Military Cooperation: China operates another joint training and support center at Cambodia's Ream naval base and maintains a logistics base in Djibouti to extend its overseas military engagement.