New facilities in Laos and Cambodia: Is China expanding its military presence in Southeast Asia?

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It's often said that maintaining good relations with your neighbors is essential. So in early November, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi invited his counterparts from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar to Beijing. There the six countries agreed on closer economic and security cooperation. The visit is just one example of China's growing influence on Southeast Asia . It's not just about trade or infrastructure either, it's also increasingly about military cooperation. For instance, at the end of September, China and Laos opened a joint military support and training center north of the Laotian capital, Vientiane. Initially Laotian air force pilots are to be trained at the Ban Keun airfield, China has said.