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by David Parmer
Djibouti is a postage-stamp sized country on the Horn of Africa. Location seems to be the former French colony’s only gift from on high. But what a location! Djibouti sits smack between the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.The prime seafront location that informs it would make you think of Singapore, but seafront location is where the similarity ends. Djibouti is an arid country with few natural resources, little industry and 60% unemployment and has been linked to human trafficking. No regional banking and IT center here.
The Horn of Africa (Map: Wikiwand)
In Djibouti they speak Arabic and French as you might surmise. The Population is 60% of Somali extraction and 35% Afar, and it is 94% Muslim, again no surprise. Its population (75%) is mainly urban, the rest being nomadic. Reports suggest that the country suffers from a water shortage, desertification and very little arable farmland.
Is there a bright spot here? Back to location. Djibouti has a service economy. It is a transshipment port handling its neighbors, imports and exports. It is also a fueling center where international shipping can obtain and store fuel.
And? There are military bases in Djibouti. France has a presence here and the U.S. has Camp Lemonnier, from which it reportedly flies drones over the troubled and very active region and keeps track of terrorists. France? OK. the US? OK. Anybody else?. Yes indeed. China.
On November 26, 2015 the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced the setting up of a logistics facility in Djibouti to enable Chinese anti-piracy forces in the Gulf of Aden to refuel and replenish supplies. China calls this “support facilities,” but the Western press has been quick to call it China’s first oversees base. Of course China has diplomatic representation in the region, and commercial interests, but this is the first non-diplomatic PRC government facility (except UN operations) outside of China. A “base” for which China will pay $100 million for a ten year lease. The U.S. has reportedly paid $60 million for a similar but longer arrangement.
This facility will also enable China to provide some overwatch and rescue capabilities for its nationals and commercial interests as well as protect shipping.
Here the relevant part of the transcript (pertaining to the Djibouti facility) of the press conference held on November 26, 2015 at China’s Ministry of National Defense.The briefing officer is Colonel Wu Qian.
Q: It is learned that China will set up a logistics base in the African country of Djibouti. Can you confirm this and will it be China’s first military base overseas?
A: China and Djibouti enjoy traditional friendship. In recent years, friendly cooperative relations between the two countries have been constantly developing with pragmatic cooperation carried out in many areas. What needs to be pointed out is that maintaining regional peace and stability is in the interests of all countries and is also the common aspiration of the people of China and Djibouti and the world at large. China is willing and obliged to make more contributions in this regard.
Based on relevant UN resolutions, China has sent more than 60 naval ships in 21 batches to perform escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somali coast. The Chinese naval escort ships have encountered a lot of difficulties such as personnel recuperation, and food and POL replenishment during performing escort missions. It is indeed necessary to have effective and near-the-site logistical support.
China and Djibouti are having discussions on setting up support facilities in Djibouti. Such facilities will ensure better support for the Chinese military in carrying out UN peacekeeping operations, escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast, as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. It will play a positive role for the Chinese military to effectively fulfill its international obligations and maintain international and regional peace and stability.
And finally, here is a link to the New York Times article on China’s first overseas “base.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/27/world/asia/china-military-presence-djibouti-africa.html?_r=0