China is building military bases in Tajikistan. Help, joint defense or expansion?
A joint parade at the Russian-Tajik exercises in April 2021. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
China is developing mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign countries in the field of defense and security. One of the ways of such cooperation is the construction of bases on the territory of foreign states to expand the presence in certain regions. Recently it became known that a new similar construction will begin in the near future. Another facility with Chinese participation will appear on the territory of Tajikistan.
Cooperation history
Tajikistan cannot boast of a large and developed army, but it faces serious threats. In this regard, the country has to resort to foreign assistance. So, for several decades, the Russian armed forces, represented by the 201st base, have made a significant contribution to the security of Tajikistan. In addition, the country is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization and can count on the help of its other participants. Finally, over the past years, cooperation with China has been developing.
In the fall of 2016, Dushanbe and Beijing signed an agreement on joint work to strengthen the protection of the Tajik-Afghan border. This document provided for the construction and reconstruction of checkpoints, border outposts and training centers in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) of Tajikistan, north of the Afghan Wakhan corridor. The construction was entrusted to the Chinese side.
However, other information was circulating as well. For example, foreign media reported that in fact, China is deploying a full-fledged military base in Tajikistan. As evidence of this, the presence of Chinese military personnel in the Murghab region, where she allegedly was, was cited.
Officials denied this information. They noted that representatives of the PLA are involved in the construction and preparation of new facilities, but nothing more. The operation of the ready-made outposts and centers was entrusted to the Tajik personnel.
The armies of Russia and Tajikistan at the exercises, March 2018 Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
It is curious that the hypothetical base in Tajikistan is still regularly mentioned in the context of China's foreign "expansion". At the same time, no new evidence of its existence in the alleged form and the performance of precisely military functions by the forces of Chinese personnel appeared. It follows from this that such information, at least, does not fully correspond to reality, and one should trust official reports.
New object
Recently, the Tajik media, referring to the official documents received, announced the imminent construction of a new Tajik-Chinese facility and disclosed the details of this project. Soon, officials from Dushanbe confirmed and supplemented this information. The draft contract for the work has already been approved by the Parliament of Tajikistan, and construction is expected to begin in the near future.
The parties to the new agreement are reportedly the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Public Security of the PRC. In accordance with the document, the Chinese side will build a special base for colleagues in the Wakhan Gorge, in the Ishkashim region of GBAO. The facility will host a rapid response team from the Organized Crime Directorate. In addition, the Tajik army will be able to use the base.
It is planned to build 3550 buildings on an area of 12 sq. M. The base will have an administrative building, a hostel and residential buildings for personnel and their families, the necessary infrastructure, etc. The total cost of the project is estimated at 100 million somoni (approx. US $ 8,9 million). The timing of the completion of construction and the taking over of the base on duty has not been specified.
Also recently, the foreign press reported that Tajikistan and China are negotiating to reorganize the service of the existing base in the Murghab region. Dushanbe is said to be proposing a complete transfer of the facility to the PLA and to waive rent. In exchange, China will have to increase the military assistance needed to counter the threat from Afghanistan. However, unlike the reports about the new base, this information has not been confirmed in any way.
Joint exercises in October 2021. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan
Foreign contribution
The defense and security of Tajikistan is largely dependent on foreign states, in one form or another, providing it with assistance. The main contribution to defense is made by the Russian 201st base. As part of this association, there are several motorized rifle regiments, as well as artillery, reconnaissance and other subunits. Earlier it was reported about the imminent integration of the Russian and Tajik air defense systems.
China has been taking noticeable measures to strengthen the security of its neighbor in recent years. According to open data, they consist in the construction and equipping of new facilities, in the retraining of Tajik personnel, etc. At the same time, for objective reasons, the main attention is paid to the fight against terrorism and crime.
According to some reports, Chinese aid goes beyond construction and training. The PLA can also participate in joint activities, and earlier it was even reported about the creation of a full-fledged Chinese base. However, not all of them are news and their sources are trustworthy. For example, five years ago, anonymous sources reported that the base in the Murghab region of GBAO had already been occupied by the Chinese military, and now "it turns out" that Dushanbe is only proposing to transfer it to China.
One way or another, China is helping Tajikistan to strengthen its defenses in important directions. At the same time, such assistance is based on the need to ensure the security of the western borders, as well as the desire to protect political and economic projects in the region. In this context, the Tajik territory is of particular interest to Beijing.
A serious threat to the security of China and other countries now comes from the territory of Afghanistan, which has been seized by extremists. The Afghan-Chinese border is small, complex and well-guarded. However, terrorists in their activities can use the easily accessible territory of third countries - primarily Tajikistan, which does not have developed armed forces.
The Chinese army is ready to work in the mountains, but is not yet committed to deploying in Tajikistan. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China
Accordingly, by helping Dushanbe to strengthen its defenses, China additionally protects itself. The lines of interception of a potential enemy in the person of terrorists are carried out at a considerable distance from the Chinese borders, into foreign territory. The benefits of such measures for the security of the PRC are obvious.
Tajikistan also gets great benefits. The support of two large and developed countries already gives him the necessary level of protection. In addition, Chinese neighbors are offering new construction services and training personnel, which has a positive effect on their own defense capabilities. There have been and are continuing deliveries of Chinese weapons and equipment. Due to all this, the material part is improving and the combat capability of the army is growing.
Security and expansion
Reports of Sino-Tajik cooperation could be seen as evidence of Beijing's desire to expand into Central Asia. However, such "expansion" is still limited only to the construction of bases for the local military and security forces - which differs from the traditional methods of the PLA.
In recent years, China has been realistically expanding to the east and south, striving to become a full-fledged leader in the Asia-Pacific region. For this, various measures are being taken, incl. in the framework of military cooperation with third countries. So, in foreign states, naval bases and support points have already been deployed, allowing the fleet work at a great distance from their native shores.
At the same time, land bases in other states of the Asia-Pacific region have not yet been built due to lack of need. In other directions, they are not required either, because the bases and units stationed on Chinese territory are still coping with the protection of land lines. However, a limited presence of troops at bases in friendly countries is not ruled out and gives certain advantages.
Thus, China continues mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and Tajikistan occupies a prominent place in these processes. By joining forces, led by the PLA and other Chinese structures, the two countries intend to defend themselves against the terrorist threat from Afghanistan. How successful the current measures of this kind will be, what they will lead to, and how the situation will develop further - time will tell.
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