The facility's runway is currently being expanded to allow for the operation of larger Chinese surveillance and intelligence aircraft. The location has a covert history, having served as a secret CIA airfield for Air America during the Vietnam War.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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China’s First Potential SE Asia Military Base Hosts 8 Attack Jets
Geopolitics15 days ago
Beijing is expanding its military presence in Southeast Asia through a new joint training facility in Ban Keun, Laos. Satellite images of the site near Vientiane show eight K-8 light attack and training jets along with more than two dozen military vehicles, a development that analysts say could transform the site into China's first full-scale military base in the region.
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