China plans to build more military facilities abroad

BEIJING: China has tried to justify building military facilities in foreign locations and signalled it would continue with efforts in this direction. It has already established a military support base in

Djibouti

in the Horn of Africa.


The statement, made in a white paper issued by the Chinese government, will be read with concern in New Delhi. India has been worried that China's People's Liberation Army would use the $60 billion

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

(CPEC) to extend its military reach.

"The PLA actively promotes international security and military cooperation and refines relevant mechanisms for protecting China's overseas interests," said the white paper titled 'China's National Defence in the New Era'. It was released by the information office of the State Council, China's cabinet.

"To address deficiencies in overseas operations and support, it builds far seas forces, develops overseas logistical facilities, and enhances capabilities in accomplishing diversified military tasks," the ministry said, trying to justify its programme of building overseas facilities.

Significantly, the white paper sent out reassuring signals to India, suggesting that the experience from the border standoff at

Doklam

in Sikkim in 2017 should be used to avoid future problems.

Discussing China's armed forces, the paper said, "They strive to promote stability and security along the border with India, and take effective measures to create favourable conditions for the peaceful resolution of the Donglang (Doklam) standoff."

It also detailed efforts by the two sides to enhance their relationship and bring peace. "To implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and India, the two militaries have exchanged high-level visits and pushed for a hotline for border defence cooperation and mechanisms for border management and border defence exchanges."

China also claimed that it has drastically reduced its expenditure on the military as a share of GDP while several other countries, including India, are increasing their military expenses. But a different view was provided by a defence think tank, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which said China is the second-largest spender on defence, after the US. Beijing increased its military expenditure by 5% to $250 billion in 2018 against India's $66.5 billion.

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