China Isn’t Denying That They Want To Build A Military Base In Djibouti

China’s foreign ministry issued a rambling statement — but not an outright denial — in response to a report on Monday that it was in talks to establish a military base in the Horn of Africa, a potential first for Beijing.

Djibouti, a small country on the tip of the horn that is also home to a sizable U.S. military presence, is currently in negotiations with China over establishing a base on its territory, the country’s president, Ismail Omar Guelleh, told AFP in an interview.

“France’s presence is old, and the Americans found that the position of Djibouti could help in the fight against terrorism in the region,” Guelleh said, noting that discussions with Beijing were ongoing. “The Japanese want to protect themselves from piracy — and now the Chinese also want to protect their interests, and they are welcome.”

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