We are used to having American military bases around the world.  Get ready for Chinese bases too, as China is finally expanding the reach of its military and quietly becoming a rival superpower.  China already has a base in Pakistan, and will now be better able to defend its interests in the Middle East and Africa.  When WWIII inevitably rolls around, expect China on Iran’s side. If Chinese manpower and technology are allied with Middle Eastern oil and fanaticism, Europe and America have problems – especially if Russia isn’t on the side of the West…

From the article at Zerohedge.com:

China Deploys Troops To Its First Overseas Military Base In Africa

“China has deployed troops to the country’s first overseas military base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, as China’s rapidly modernizing military extends its global reach. Beijing says the “support base” will be used for logistical purposes, such as resupplying ships taking part in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia however concerns are growing about China’s rising geopolitical influence especially at such a key strategic location.

Djibouti, which is about the size of Wales, is situated at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal. The tiny, barren nation sandwiched between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia also hosts U.S., Japanese and French bases. As we reported last year, China raised many eyebrows when it began construction of the Djibouti logistical base last year. Located nearly 5,000 miles from the Chinese capital, Djibouti is located at a highly strategic, if dangerous part of the world. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the planet’s most important oil chokepoints and, like the Suez Canal, there are numerous nations that have an interest in keeping it open and secure. Additionally, Djibouti’s location on the horn of Africa makes it an attractive base from which to conduct “anti-terror”, or any other military operations in both Africa and the Mid-East.

As Xinhua reports, ships carrying Chinese military personnel from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) departed Zhanjiang in southern China’s Guangdong Province on Tuesday to set up a support base in Djibouti, without providing details on the number of troops that were deployed. Referring to the facility as a “support base,” the Chinese media said its purpose will be to ensure China’s successful performance of missions in the region.