Digital Journal quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the first Chinese military base in Africa, which will be located in Djibouti where the United States also has its only permanent military base on the continent:
China also has spent considerable sums in Djibouti that include a rail link to Ethiopia, an airport, and new port facilities. The Djibouti government of President Guelleh has good relations with both China and the U.S. He told reporters a Chinese military deployment in Djibouti would be welcome. China has contributed 800 troops to a UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan. African analyst J Peter Pham said it makes a great deal of sense for China to build a base in Djibouti. From the base, Chinese aircraft, which have a range of 2,500 miles, would be able to cover a large area of Africa, but also the Arabian Peninsula. No doubt this is why the U.S. sees its own base as quite strategic and valuable. Pham, based in Washington, noted the base would not be in the U.S. strategic interest.