The PLA Djibouti Support Base
A ceremony was held on August 1, 2017 in Djibouti to mark the completion of China's first overseas support base and its entry into service with the deployment of the PLA units. The support base strengthens the ability of China's military to protect national interests abroad, conduct escort missions at sea, participate in UN peacekeeping operations and international humanitarian rescues, and evacuate Chinese nationals caught in emergencies.
By July 2019, personnel stationed there had provided maintenance and repair services for vessels participating in escort missions and medical services for over 100 sailors. They conducted joint medical relief exercises with foreign militaries, and donated 600 items of educational equipment to local schools.
Previously, growing overseas activities by China's military, including escort missions at sea, UN peacekeeping, international HADR operations, and evacuation of Chinese nationals, had difficulties in meeting logistics needs and arranging service members' layover stays. These inadequacies have been particularly prominent since 2008, when China dispatched escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
The establishment of a support base in Djibouti enables China to better fulfill its duties and obligations as a responsible member of the international community, and better promote regional peace and stability, in addition to protecting China's legitimate interests.
駐吉布提保障基地
2017年8月1日（吉布提當地時間），中國人民解放軍駐吉布提保障基地部隊舉行進駐營區儀式，這標志著中國首個海外保障基地建成和投入使用。這是中國軍隊為有效維護國家海外利益，更好地遂行海上護航、國際維和、國際人道主義救援、撤離海外中國公民等任務，在吉布提建立的保障基地。自開營以來，截至2019年7月，已為4批次護航編隊保障維修器材，為百余名護航官兵提供醫療保障服務，同外軍開展聯合醫療救援演練等活動，并向當地學校捐贈600余件教學器材。
近年來，中國軍隊執行海上護航、國際維和、國際人道主義救援、撤離海外中國公民等任務越來越多，特別是2008年以來，根據聯合國有關決議，中國已派出多批護航編隊赴亞丁灣、索馬里海域護航，在執行任務過程中，官兵休整和物資保障補給等面臨著許多實際困難。中國在吉布提建立保障基地，是為了更好地履行負責任大國的國際責任和義務，提供國際公共安全產品，維護地區和平穩定，也有利于維護中國的合法權益。
