Opinion | How China is positioning its counterterrorism forces to play a greater role
- Mathieu Duchâtel writes that China is not creating military options for deterrence purposes or psychological warfare only. Military action in the name of counterterrorism is plausible in the years ahead
Vanuatu, the Maldives, Cambodia, Sri Lanka …
Not a single week passes without new rumours regarding where the Chinese navy will build its second overseas base after Djibouti in East Africa.
Speculation about Gwadar in Pakistan as a possible location for a base has never faded since construction of the port started in 2002.
The PLA Navy’s future long-range operations will require more logistical support facilities; and so China should be expected to seize the right opportunities to justify the conclusion of its future basing agreements.
An escort mission by the Chinese navy in the Strait of Hormuz, as vowed by US President Donald Trump, could provide a perfect opportunity for the PLA to justify a move in Pakistan, for example.
But while the navy attracts most of the international attention, the Chinese military already operates a second overseas military outpost in Tajikistan, and most probably has done so since 2016. (The exact date of its launch is unclear, as there was no official announcement.)
