K-8 attack jets, military vehicles spotted at new China-Laos air base: Report

China is expanding its military presence in Southeast Asia, with satellite imagery showing light attack aircraft and military vehicles at a newly established China-Laos joint training facility near Vientiane, according to reports.

The images, taken on September 30 by commercial satellite provider Vantor, show what security analysts believe are eight K-8 light attack jets and more than two dozen support vehicles on a runway that is still under construction, Reuters reported. China opened its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017 and has also developed a military presence at Cambodia’s Ream naval facility.

The new Ban Keun airport is located in northwestern Vientiane province, about 45 km north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane. Situated at the centre of the Indochina peninsula, the airfield previously served as a tactical support site within the US network of airstrips in Laos during the Laotian Civil War and the Vietnam War era, before ceasing active operations after the conflicts.

The facility at Ban Keun, about 50 km north of the Laotian capital, was announced by China and Laos on September 29. China’s defence ministry said the centre would support training for Laotian air force pilots and would be operated by both sides.

Reuters reported that the images also show extensive construction around the runway, with analysts watching for signs of air-defence systems, ammunition and fuel storage and surveillance facilities. Rachel Vandenbrink, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told Reuters the location was “likely more about a target of opportunity than filling an obvious operational need”.

“Laos does have some geostrategic value as an accessible foothold in mainland Southeast Asia, given its shared border with China and infrastructure links, including (its) railway,” she said.

The K-8 aircraft, also known as the Hongdu JL-8, are used for training and light attack missions and are operated by both China and Laos, according to Reuters. Laos has four of the aircraft, based on the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual assessment.

China’s defence ministry did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment, while the Lao embassy in Bangkok and Laos’ foreign ministry also did not immediately respond. AFP reported that Joshua Kurlantzick of the council on foreign relations described the facility as China’s “first air force base that China has abroad”, while cautioning that further overseas facilities could follow.