China's military plot exposed; Xi wants logistics outposts in dozens of countries: Pentagon

China is seeking to set up more robust logistics in about a dozen countries, including three in India’s neighbourhood, to allow its army to project and sustain its power at greater distances, a Pentagon report has said. In addition to three Indian neighbours -- Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar,  or countries where China is considering to base its military logistics and infrastructure are Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan, report said on Tuesday.

In its annual report “Military and Security Developments Involving People’s Republic of China (PRC) 2020” that was submitted to US Congress on Tuesday, Pentagon said se potential Chinese military logistics facilities are in addition to Chinese military base in Djibouti, which is aimed at supporting naval, air and ground forces projection.

“A global PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) military logistics network could both interfere with US military operations and support offensive operations against United States as PRC’s global military objectives evolve,” Pentagon said in report.

China has probably already made overtures to Namibia, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands, it said, adding kwn focus areas of PLA planning are along Seal Lines of Communication from China to Strait of Hormuz, Africa, and Pacific Islands. Similarly, Pentagon said, Beijing uses One Belt One Road (OBOR) to support its strategy of national rejuvenation by seeking to expand global transportation and trade links to support its development and deepen its ecomic integration with nations along its periphery and beyond.

“OBOR projects associated with pipelines and port construction in Pakistan intend to decrease China’s reliance on transporting energy resources through strategic chokepoints, such as Strait of Malacca,” it said.

China levers OBOR to invest in projects along China’s western and sourn periphery to improve stability and diminish threats along its borders, report said. First anunced in 2013, China’s OBOR initiative is a signature foreign and ecomic policy advanced by President Xi Jinping. According to Pentagon, a global PLA military logistics network could both interfere with US military operations and support offensive operations against United States as Chinese global military objectives evolve.

"Host nations can perform an essential role in regulating PRC’s military operations as Chinese officials very likely recognise that a stable long-term relationship with host nation is critical to success of ir military logistics facilities," it said.

Chinese military academics assert that bases abroad can enable forward deployment of its forces and support military conflict, diplomatic signalling, political change, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and training. y also suggest that a military logistic network could enable intelligence monitoring of US military. In August 2017, China officially opened its first military base in Djibouti.

Chinese Navy Marines are stationed at base with wheeled armoured vehicles and artillery but are currently dependent on nearby commercial ports due to lack of a pier on base, report said. Chinese personnel at facility have interfered with US flights by lasing pilots and flying drones, and China has sought to restrict Djiboutian sovereign air over base, report said.