China's New Airfield in Laos Raises Regional Security Concerns
Beijing's first overseas air-focused military facility, while currently limited, is seen as a strategic move that could alter regional dynamics.
China has officially opened a joint military airfield in Laos, marking Beijing's first overseas facility specifically designed for air power. While construction appears ongoing, satellite imagery and regional analysis suggest the airport's potential for expansion is drawing close scrutiny from neighboring nations and defense experts.
The Ban Keun airport, located approximately 50 kilometers north of Laos' capital Vientiane and the Thai border, is China's latest project aimed at projecting force beyond its borders. This follows previous initiatives such as a base in Djibouti and renovations to the Ream naval facility in Cambodia.
Despite assurances from China's Ministry of Defense that the facility, also referred to as the "China-Laos Joint Support and Training Center and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy," is intended to assist Laos in training its air force pilots and is not directed against any third party, its strategic implications are a significant point of discussion.
Greg Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the current infrastructure, including a 2,000-meter runway, is sufficient for fighter aircraft. However, the potential for extending the runway by another 1,000 meters could accommodate larger aircraft, such as bombers.
"China's overseas basing strategy at the moment seems a lot more like playing roulette than poker," Poling stated. "Small bets over the board that occasionally pay off."
Vietnam, which shares territorial disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea, views the Laos project with particular concern. An anonymous Vietnamese official indicated that while the facility might be presented as a training center for humanitarian relief, China's decision to establish it is intended to strengthen its influence in Laos and would place additional military pressure on Vietnam.
The Institute for the Study of War suggests that the Ban Keun facility, even in its current state, offers the People's Liberation Army Air Force alternate routes to access disputed areas of the South China Sea and strategic air routes around Vietnam.
Thailand, a treaty ally of the United States with regular joint military exercises with China, has stated it does not perceive the airfield as a threat to its security but will continue to monitor its development. "Laos has the 'legitimate freedom to choose and consent to agreements with a partnering country under their own sovereign rights,'" said Rear Adm. Surasant Kongsiri, a Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson.
Evan Laksmana, a defense analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, posited that the airfield could complicate U.S. strategy concerning Taiwan. While farther from Taiwan than mainland Chinese bases, it could serve as an alternate landing or repair strip for damaged aircraft. The facility's proximity to a new high-speed rail line connecting China's Yunnan province to Vientiane, a signature project of China's Belt and Road initiative, could facilitate logistical support.
Laksmana added that the facility provides China an opportunity to gain familiarity with overseas engagements and activities, even if the Laotian air force currently possesses a limited number of combat-capable aircraft. Poling suggested that if Laos plans to expand its air force, the agreement with China could lead to favorable deals on Chinese combat aircraft in the future.