China may build Middle East naval base
China’s rapidly-expanding navy is considering building its first
foreign naval base, according to a senior admiral.

By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai

daily telegraph/uk
Published: 2:09PM GMT 30 Dec 2009

Members of the Chinese navy honour guard marching during a welcoming
ceremony Photo: GETTY
In a sign of the growing confidence of the Chinese military, Admiral
Yin Zhuo said that the country may set up a base in the Gulf of Aden
in order to support missions against Somali pirates.

Since the end of last year, China has sent four flotillas to the
Middle East in order to take part in anti-piracy operations together
with US, European, Indian and Russian warships. The latest mission,
which departed from China in October, involved two missile frigates.

Rear-Admiral Michael Kyrle PopeMr Yin said a permanent base in the
region would help supply Chinese ships. "We are not saying we need our
navy everywhere in order to fulfil our international commitments," he
said, cautiously. "We are saying to fulfil our international
commitments, we need to strengthen our supply capacity."

His words, which came just a few days after China rescued 25 sailors
from Somali pirates, were posted in an interview on the Defence
ministry website. China is reported to have paid a USD4 million
(Pounds2.5 million) ransom to free the De Xin Hai, a coal carrier.

Mr Yin, who is a senior researcher at the navy’s Equipment Research
centre, pointed out that the first Chinese ships in the Gulf of Aden
spent 124 days at sea without docking, a logistical challenge.

However, Chinese ships have since been permitted to dock at a French base.

"If China establishes a similar long-term supply base, I believe that
the nations in the region and the other countries involved with the
(anti-pirate) escorts would understand," he said. "I think a
permanent, stable base would be good for our operations."

Yin added he was aware that Chinese naval ships in the waters near the
Gulf have aroused suspicions, but believed other nations understood
Beijing’s intention was to counter pirates. As the world’s largest
importer of oil, China is believed to want to establish bases
throughout the Indian Ocean and South China Sea to protect its
tankers.