Part of: Prelims and GS II – International Relations
Context China will take full control of a military base in Tajikistan near the Afghan border that it has been quietly operating and will also build a new base for the Tajik Government.
Key takeaways
Tajikistan granted approval for the construction of a new base, following an agreement between Tajikistan and China.
The agreement was signed by the China’s Public Security Ministry, and not the Chinese military which suggests a focus on counterterrorism amid rising concerns over instability in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The new base would be owned by Tajikistan’s Rapid Reaction Group and financed by China for a cost of $10 million.
It will be located in the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan autonomous province near the Pamir mountains, and Chinese troops will not be stationed there.
Tajikistan Government has also agreed to transfer full control a former Soviet base near the China-Tajikistan-Afghanistan tri-junction and the Wakhan Corridor, where China shares a less than 100 km border with Afghanistan.
The base, once full control has been transferred, will become only the second known overseas Chinese security facility, after Djibouti near the Horn of Africa .
Do you know?
Russia and India are among countries that already have a military presence in bases in Tajikistan.