ChinaLaosMilitarySoutheast AsiaStrategic
China Builds New Joint Air Base in Laos, Deploying 8 JL‑8 Aircraft
Published: October 9, 2026
China's Defense Ministry announced on May 28 that a joint air base at Ban Keun, Laos, will host eight JL‑8 aircraft and 24 support vehicles. The move marks the first fully‑fledged Chinese overseas military base in Southeast Asia, expanding Beijing's regional footprint.
China and Laos inaugurated a joint training facility at Ban Keun, 65 km north of Vientiane, on May 28, staging eight JL‑8 aircraft and 24 support vehicles for the new airfield. <
> The site, once known as Lima Site 44 during the Vietnam War, was operated covertly by the CIA‑backed Air America to ferry Hmong troops into Laos’s rugged highlands. <
> Defence Minister Li Shangfu said the base will strengthen Laos’ pilot training and be jointly maintained, stressing that the runway is still under construction to accommodate larger aircraft. <
> Security analysts Collin Koh and Alexander Neill noted satellite images from Vantor showing an extended runway and potential facilities that could support signals‑intelligence platforms, indicating a strategic expansion beyond basic training. <
> With the base now operational, China controls a forward location that could host air defence, fuel storage, and surveillance assets, while regional powers monitor for any new capabilities. The Ministry of Defence plans a joint exercise with Lao forces next month, signalling a deepening military partnership.