China expands overseas military presence with new Laos air force centre

China has launched a rare air force support and training centre in Laos, the Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday.The China-Laos Joint Support and Training Centre and the China-Laos Friendship Aviation Academy are now in operation at the Ban Keun Airport, aiming to help the Laotian Air Force train its pilots, the ministry said in a statement.The two institutions will be jointly maintained and operated by both sides, the statement said, without providing details on what personnel or equipment would be based at the airport, or how many personnel or how much equipment.This move marks a strategic expansion of China’s limited overseas military presence, adding another foothold in Southeast Asia following a similar joint naval facility in Cambodia.