China’s growing military presence in Laos has raised new strategic concerns in Southeast Asia. China has deployed 8 of its jets at Ban Kiun Airbase in Laos. Xi Jinping also poses a strategic challenge to Thailand, Vietnam, and especially the United States, as China expands its military presence in Southeast Asia.

According to a Reuters report, satellite images show eight K-8 light attack jets and more than 2 dozen support vehicles at the new China-Laos Joint Military Training Center being built in Ban Keun, Laos. These images were taken on September 30 by the commercial satellite company Ventor.

Why increased concern about Thailand and Vietnam?

1. The location of Ban Keun is considered strategically important for China. Laos shares borders with China, Thailand and Vietnam. In such a situation, by building a military base here, China gets an opportunity to strengthen its presence in this part of South-East Asia.
2. This is particularly important for Thailand as Laos shares its western border with Thailand. At the same time, Vietnam’s western border is also connected to Laos.
3. China’s regional surveillance capabilities may also increase if larger aircraft, surveillance systems or electronic intelligence-related facilities are added to these airfields in the future.

China’s military presence abroad is increasing

China has rapidly modernized its military over the past two decades. Despite this, its network of military bases abroad is still much smaller than America’s. China has a logistics base in Djibouti. It also has port access to Cambodia’s Rim and a strong Chinese military presence in the South China Sea.

Now this new center in Laos could give China another strategic location in mainland Southeast Asia. According to Rachel VandenBrink, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, choosing Ban Ki-moon may be a matter of seizing an available opportunity rather than any major military need.

According to him, Laos is important to China because it shares its border with China and there are many infrastructural connections between the two countries, including railways. This connectivity could facilitate movement of troops and military equipment for China.

8 Why is the K-8 jet important?

1. Security experts who analyzed the satellite images said the aircraft seen was similar to the Hongdu JL-8 or K-8. The air forces of both China and Laos use such aircraft.
2. The K-8 is a two-seater aircraft. It can be used for pilot training as well as light attack. It was jointly developed by China and Pakistan and has also been exported to many countries.
3. According to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Laos currently has 4 such aircraft. However, experts have questioned the current status of this aircraft.

The strategic challenge for America may also increase

The impact of China’s move is not limited to neighboring countries. China’s growing military presence in Southeast Asia could also pose a strategic challenge to the US.

If China develops permanent military facilities in Laos, it could gain additional space in mainland Southeast Asia to train its military, conduct military activities, and enhance surveillance capabilities.

However, it is too early to say that Ban Keun has fully become a Chinese overseas military base. Currently, there is construction underway and only a limited number of light aircraft and support vehicles are visible in the images.

Ban Ki-moon was once a secret US airfield

The story of Ban Kiun is also interesting because this place was once used for US secret operations. During the Vietnam War there was an airfield here, known as Lima Site 44. According to Ryan Wolfson-Ford, Southeast Asia expert at the Library of Congress, it was used by Air America.

Air America was a secret airline affiliated with the CIA. It was transporting US-backed Hmong troops and essential supplies to mountain airstrips in Laos. These airstrips were called Lima sites. Historian Dr. According to Joachim Leiker, Air America helicopters from Ban Kiun in 1968 were used to transport Hmong soldiers to combat zones.

After almost six decades, a new military base of China and Laos is being developed at the same place. It is for this reason that this small airfield is now being watched by major South-East Asian powers and security experts.