China Opens Joint Air Force Training Center in Laos
China and Laos launched a joint air force support center and aviation academy at Ban Keun Airport to train Laotian pilots and expand military cooperation.
The Government of China and the government of Laos have launched a joint air force support and training center alongside the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy at Ban Keun Airport. The Ministry of Defence of China announced on Tuesday that these facilities are now operational and will be jointly maintained and operated by both nations.
The centers are designed to support pilot training for the Laotian Air Force and deepen military cooperation between the two countries. While the announcement confirms the facilities are active, the Chinese government provided no specific details regarding the volume of equipment or the number of personnel stationed at the airport.
This development marks a strategic expansion of China's overseas military presence in Southeast Asia. The establishment of the aviation centers follows a similar pattern of military integration in the region, specifically the previous creation of a joint naval facility in Cambodia.
