China to open its first military base abroad in Indian Ocean

The contract,awarded this year to a Chinese association,gives exclusive rights to explore a 10,000-square-km of international seabed in the southwest Indian Ocean.

The base in Seychelles is regarded as significant by analysts as China is about to launch its first aircraft carrier.

Playing down its significance,the Chinese Defence Ministry said it is international practice for naval fleets to re-supply at the port of a nearby state during long-distance missions. It added that Chinese fleets have re-supply facilities in Djibouti,Oman and Yemen since Beijing sent its first convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2008.

The decision to set up the base was taken during Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglies visit to Seychelles earlier this month.

Seychelles Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam said his country invited China to set up a base to beef up the fight against piracy. We have invited the Chinese government to set up a military presence on Mahe to fight the pirate attacks that the Seychelles faces on a regular basis, he said. K J M Varma