China and Laos open joint military pilot training base near Vientiane

China and Laos inaugurated a joint military pilot training facility near Vientiane, Laos, on September 29, 2026. The base is intended to train pilots and could serve as a strategic foothold for the People's Liberation Army in Southeast Asia.

Why it matters. The facility expands China’s military presence in Southeast Asia, potentially affecting regional security dynamics and the Philippines’ territorial dispute with China.