China Opens Joint Air Force Training Center in Laos

On Tuesday, China’s Ministry of Defence announced the launch of the China‑Laos Joint Support and Training Centre and the China‑Laos Friendship Aviation Academy at Ban Keun Airport in Laos. The two institutions are designed to help the Laotian Air Force train its pilots and will be jointly maintained and operated by Chinese and Laotian personnel. The move marks a rare expansion of China’s overseas military presence and signals a deepening of defense cooperation with Laos, though the statement did not disclose details on the personnel involved or the specific training programs. The new facilities underscore China’s growing role in regional security arrangements and its willingness to provide direct military support to allied states.