The PLA Djibouti Support Base
A ceremony was held on August 1, 2017 in Djibouti to mark the completion of China's first overseas support base and its entry into service with the deployment of the PLA units. The support base strengthens the ability of China's military to protect national interests abroad, conduct escort missions at sea, participate in UN peacekeeping operations and international humanitarian rescues, and evacuate Chinese nationals caught in emergencies.
By July 2019, personnel stationed there had provided maintenance and repair services for vessels participating in escort missions and medical services for over 100 sailors. They conducted joint medical relief exercises with foreign militaries, and donated 600 items of educational equipment to local schools.
Previously, growing overseas activities by China's military, including escort missions at sea, UN peacekeeping, international HADR operations, and evacuation of Chinese nationals, had difficulties in meeting logistics needs and arranging service members' layover stays. These inadequacies have been particularly prominent since 2008, when China dispatched escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
The establishment of a support base in Djibouti enables China to better fulfill its duties and obligations as a responsible member of the international community, and better promote regional peace and stability, in addition to protecting China's legitimate interests.
驻吉布提保障基地
2017年8月1日（吉布提当地时间），中国人民解放军驻吉布提保障基地部队举行进驻营区仪式，这标志着中国首个海外保障基地建成和投入使用。这是中国军队为有效维护国家海外利益，更好地遂行海上护航、国际维和、国际人道主义救援、撤离海外中国公民等任务，在吉布提建立的保障基地。自开营以来，截至2019年7月，已为4批次护航编队保障维修器材，为百余名护航官兵提供医疗保障服务，同外军开展联合医疗救援演练等活动，并向当地学校捐赠600余件教学器材。
近年来，中国军队执行海上护航、国际维和、国际人道主义救援、撤离海外中国公民等任务越来越多，特别是2008年以来，根据联合国有关决议，中国已派出多批护航编队赴亚丁湾、索马里海域护航，在执行任务过程中，官兵休整和物资保障补给等面临着许多实际困难。中国在吉布提建立保障基地，是为了更好地履行负责任大国的国际责任和义务，提供国际公共安全产品，维护地区和平稳定，也有利于维护中国的合法权益。