Tajikistan approves construction of Chinese military base near Afghan border

Tajikistan has approved the construction of a new Chinese military base near the Tajik-Afghan border amid warnings by Tajik officials of growing threats emanating from Afghanistan.

The Tajik government has also offered to transfer full control of an existing, but unacknowledged, Chinese military base in the country to Beijing, while waiving any future rent in exchange for military aid from China, RFE/RL reported, citing a communique sent from the Chinese Embassy in Dushanbe to Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry.

China operates a military base in Tajikistan’s Murghab Region near the Afghan border, where a collection of facilities and outposts is believed to have been in operation for five years and was the subject of a recent investigation by RFE/RL. The investigation showed China expanding its role in the area. Both the Tajik and Chinese governments continue to deny the existence of the Murghab base.