Military Capabilities
US DoD says China is likely to build more overseas bases
Gabriel Dominguez, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
07 June 2017
China is expanding its access to foreign ports to pre-position the necessary logistics support to regularise and sustain deployments in waters as distant as the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean, the US Department of Defense (DoD) said in its 2017 report to Congress on military and security developments involving China.
Published on 6 June, the 97-page document said China's expanding international economic interests are increasing demands for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN) to operate in more distant maritime environments to protect Chinese citizens, investments, and critical sea lines of communication (SLOC).
As a result, Beijing will "most likely seek to establish additional military bases in countries with which it has a longstanding, friendly relationship and similar strategic interests, such as Pakistan, and with which there is a precedent for hosting foreign militaries", the report said.