Chinese People's Liberation Army has established a logistics support base in the east African country of Djibouti. According to CGTN’s reporter Frances Kuo, Chinese troops are on their way to Djibouti.

“The establishment of the base will help Chinese vessels’ escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia, and international obligations such as humanitarian rescue missions,” Geng Shuang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. “It also stimulates the social and economic development of Djibouti.”

The goal of the base is to help in humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts in Africa and West Asia. It will also be able to engage in rescue missions and naval exercises. 

This new base in Djibouti could house as many as 10,000 troops. Their new home of Djibouti sits in a relatively stable country, between two unstable ones – Somalia and Eritrea. The military could find itself busy as soon as it arrives. China has recently offered to mediate in the border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea and could send troops if requested.