China expands military presence in Southeast Asia with new facilities in Laos and Cambodia

China and Laos opened a joint military support and training center north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane, at the end of September 2025. Earlier this year, China also expanded its presence at Cambodia's Ream naval base on the Gulf of Thailand. The two steps raise the question of whether Beijing is strengthening its military influence in Southeast Asia, where it has already greatly increased its economic weight.

In early November, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi invited his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar to Beijing. The six countries agreed on closer economic and security cooperation.

Ban Keun airfield in Laos

China says Laotian air force pilots will initially be trained at the Ban Keun airfield. Besides transport aircraft and helicopters, Laos has only three light Russian Yakovlev combat aircraft, while aviation outlet FlightGlobal reports four more Chinese K-8 trainer and light attack jets in service. Satellite images analyzed by Reuters in early October showed eight K-8s at the base, though that does not necessarily mean they are stationed there permanently. The runway is 2,000 meters long, while large Chinese bombers usually need 3,000.

Expert views

Marco Bünte, professor of Asian politics at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, notes that Laos and Cambodia have long been close military partners of China. If cooperation deepens, China would gain strategic depth in mainland Southeast Asia and better access to the South China Sea, but he would not speak of hegemony. Johann Fuhrmann, head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Beijing office, urges against hasty conclusions and says the key question is what rights China will be granted.

Vietnam and the Philippines, both of which have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, are watching closely. In early November the Vietnamese government said any military cooperation must serve peace and stability. China, which is not an ASEAN member, says its activities are not aimed at any third parties.