China’s Covert Military Installation in Tajikistan Revealed
China’s Construction of Secret Military Base in Tajikistan Raises Concerns
After the recent SCO summit and Xi Jinping’s tour of Central Asia, The Telegraph, a British newspaper, has brought attention to China’s construction of a secret military base in Tajikistan. The facility, located at an altitude of 3,962 meters above sea level in a remote area, has been under construction for the past 10 years. Reports suggest that troops from both China and Tajikistan are stationed at the base, although both governments deny such claims.
The Telegraph outlines several reasons why China may be interested in establishing a base in Tajikistan. These reasons include addressing the unstable situation in neighboring Afghanistan, controlling the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, cooperating with Dushanbe on counter-terrorism efforts, and protecting their investments in Tajikistan, where a significant portion of the country’s external debt is owed to China.
The newspaper also highlights China’s economic expansion and warns that reliance on China could lead to political and security dependence in the future. However, experts like Temur Umarov from the Carnegie Research Center in Berlin suggest that the base in Tajikistan may not strictly be a military facility. Umarov claims that it is primarily a base for armed militia, intended to enhance border security and cooperation between China and Tajikistan.
While the presence of China in Tajikistan raises concerns, experts like Umarov argue that the base serves practical security purposes for both countries without any hidden agenda. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this development will impact the regional dynamics in Central Asia.
