Djibouti: Two new sites expand Chinese surveillance capabilities

The commercial images analyzed by CSIS reveal new antennas, satellite communication equipment, and other systems. The center estimates that this setup likely fits into a broader command and intelligence architecture linking Chinese forces deployed in the region to headquarters in China.

According to the report, the variety and orientation of the equipment allow for the transmission and detection of a wide range of signals and frequencies. However, CSIS notes that it is not possible to determine from the images alone whether the base is actively intercepting foreign communications.

The geographical reach of the site gives these capabilities particular significance. The United States, France, Italy, and Japan operate bases within 16 kilometers of the Chinese facility, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Opened in 2017, the Djibouti base is the only overseas military installation officially recognized by Beijing. The Chinese Ministry of Defense describes it as a support base intended for escort operations, emergency relief, medical assistance, and military cooperation.

CSIS believes that the new equipment could also improve the tracking of the origin, direction, frequency, and rhythm of signals emitted by forces in the area. The Chinese embassy in Washington had not responded by Thursday to Reuters’ request for comment on the report’s findings.