China To Build Its First Military Base In Africa

China has signed a deal to open a military base in Djibouti. Above, Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh (R) and Chinese President Hu Jintao hold talks after a welcoming at the Great Hall of the People, July 18, 2012, in Beijing. Diego Azubel-Pool/Getty Images

IBTimes: China To Open First Military Base In Africa, Signs Deal With Djibouti, US General Says

China has signed a 10-year deal with the African nation Djibouti to build a military base there -- China's first military base on the continent, said U.S. Army Gen. David Rodriguez, who is a commander with U.S. Africa Command. China has long had an economic foothold in Africa, but the base would be an expansion of its military prowess beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

Djibouti is a small country in East Africa, across from Yemen and on the Gulf of Aden, with a population of just under 830,000. The vast majority of the population is Muslim; about 6 percent are Christian. Djibouti also hosts about 4,000 U.S. military service members at Camp Lemonnier, which, according to its website, is a Navy-led establishment that supports and prepares ships, aircraft and other deployments for "regional and combatant command requirements." It also enables U.S. military operations in the surrounding Horn of Africa while "fostering positive U.S.-African Nation relations," the website said.

WNU Editor: This is probably the first of many Chinese military bases to be established overseas. On a side note, I would like to know how close will this Chinese base be to the U.S. base at Camp Lemonnier.

More News On China's First Military base In Africa

China's military makes move into Africa -- The Hill
China Is Setting Up Its First Military Base in Africa -- National Interest
China Just Made An Aggressive Military Move That Has U.S. Officials On High Alert -- Western Journalism
US General: China Has 10 Year Contract for First Overseas Military Base -- The Diplomat
China Signs Contract To Build Its First African Military Base -- Daily Caller
Out of Africa: Will China's Military Displace the US on the Continent? -- Sputnik