China's military base in Djibouti: a microcosm of China's growing competition with the United States and new bipolarity/
Jean Pierre Cabestan
- 2020
It explores the potential role that the Chinese military stationed in Djibouti could play to secure Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative and protect Chinese interests and nationals in Africa or the Middle East. The establishment of a military base in Djibouti is a turning point in China's foreign and security policy. This decision underscores China's as well as its leader Xi Jinping's new international ambitions. China has become more and more open about its real intentions: from a logistics support facility, the PLA base has rapidly turned into a full-fledged naval and army base able to conduct all sorts of missions.