Personnel have departed to begin setting up China's first overseas military base, in Djibouti, on the Horn of Africa. China has officially designated the Red Sea base as a logistics facility.

"The base will also be conducive to overseas tasks - including military cooperation, joint exercises, evacuating and protecting overseas Chinese, and emergency rescue, as well as jointly maintaining security of international strategic seaways," the state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday, but did not announce when operations would formally begin or how many troops the country had sent.

Several countries have set up shop in Djibouti - which borders Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia - a vital port and a model of stability in an otherwise volatile region. The United States, France, Japan, Italy and Spain already have bases in the country, and Saudi Arabia has begun construction on one.

The Port of Djibouti is at the intersection of major international shipping lines connecting Asia, Africa and Europe

'Control the world'?

In an editorial Wednesday, the state-run Global Times newspaper did not attempt to conceal the fact that China had established a military presence in Djibouti. "Certainly this is the People's Liberation Army's first overseas base, and we will base troops there," the editorial went. "It's not a commercial resupply point. It makes sense there is attention on this from foreign public opinion."

Speculation persists in diplomatic circles that China would build other such bases - in Pakistan, for example - but the government has dismissed this. The Global Times assured its readers that Chinese officials want only to protect the country's security: "It's not about seeking to control the world."

In a front-page commentary, the People's Liberation Army Daily claimed that the base would increase the military's ability to ensure global order. China already has many UN peacekeepers in Africa and has become quite involved in patrolling for pirates.

The People's Liberation Army Daily assured its readers that China would not seek military expansionism or get into arms races, no matter what. "These promises will not change because of the construction of the overseas logistics base," in the words of the People's Liberation Army Daily.

In 2011, China sent one of its most sophisticated warships, along with military transport aircraft, to help evacuate about 35,000 citizens from Libya during the uprising against dictator Moammar Gadhafi. Then, in 2015, the military detached three navy ships from its anti-piracy patrols to rescue Chinese citizens and other foreign nationals from fighting in Yemen. The same year, China took part in its first Mediterranean joint naval exercises with Russia.

Solace in Djibouti? Praying for help A refugee from Yemen prays outside his tent in Markazi refugee camp near Obock, Djibouti. As of June 2 the UN estimated that around 16 million people in Yemen were in need of humanitarian assistance.

Solace in Djibouti? Boat people Many of the Yemeni refugees coming by boat to capital of Djibouti are told to take the ferry to small town of Obock where Markazi refugee camp is located.

Solace in Djibouti? Safe haven? Gofran Hussein Mohammed, 22 and Aiham Ehab Makyam, 21, arrived around 3 weeks ago by boat from Aden. Today, Djibouti is the only neighboring country that is accepting refugees from Yemen. Crossing the ocean is the only way to get there.

Solace in Djibouti? A better future Aiham Ehab Makyam, 21, sits in his tent in the UNCHR-hosted refugee camp near Obock in Djibouti. He left his family in Aden after his father told him that he still has a chance of a better future. In Yemen, says Aiham, that is impossible.

Solace in Djibouti? Finding their feet Refugee children from Yemen play football in Markazi refugee camp According to UNICEF almost 8 million children in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance.

Solace in Djibouti? Spark of life At night 21-year-old Aiham Ehab Makyamom makes a fire to get more light in the refugee camp.

Solace in Djibouti? Tent city UNHCR has provided tents for the Markazi refugee camp. As of May 20, the camp is home to 1,055 refugees, but that number is expected to grow rapidly over the coming weeks and months as the conflict in Yemen shows no sign of abating.

Solace in Djibouti? Temperature rising Because of the extreme heat in the tents many Yemeni refugees in the camp sleep outside. During the day the temperatures can go beyond 40C, and many of the refugees complain about the unbearable heat.

Solace in Djibouti? Shadow play Aiham Ehab Makyam sleeps outside his tent. "It is to hot to sleep inside the tent, and as soon soon the sun starts to go up in the morning you need to find a place with shadows", he told DW.

Solace in Djibouti? Innocence lost One of the many child refugees in the camp. The conflict in Yemen has killed over 1,900 people, including 149 children. Author: Andreas Stahl, Djibouti



mkg/rt (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)