Recent analysis of satellite imagery by a US think tank indicates that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has upgraded its overseas military base in Djibouti, adding two new communication facilities. This development could potentially enhance China’s communication and signal intelligence gathering capabilities in the Middle East and Africa. However, researchers also note that there is currently no confirmation on whether the CCP military is actively intercepting military communications from other countries.
The Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), released a report on Thursday, stating that since mid-2024, the CCP military has introduced two new communication facilities in the southeast and northwest parts of its Djibouti support base, with the main construction completed around mid-2025.
The larger facility in the southeast includes three approximately 30-meter high High-Frequency (HF) antennas, two Very High-Frequency/Ultra High-Frequency (VHF/UHF) antennas, three mobile satellite communication dish antennas, four possible 5G arrays, and radar domes of unknown purpose.
In the northwest, there are two crossed-dipole High-Frequency antennas of about 30 meters. Strengthened cable trenching from 2025 suggests that there may still be room for expansion in the area.
CSIS believes that these two facilities likely form a base-level “Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance” (C4ISR) framework. The report states, “The types and orientations of new equipment enable it to transmit and detect signals across a wide range of frequencies.”
These facilities can enhance communication between the CCP military and regional ships, aircraft, and command headquarters within China. Some antennas could theoretically be used for signal interception and direction-finding, but CSIS emphasizes that the base’s passive signal intelligence (SIGINT) collection activities cannot be confirmed at present.
Djibouti is situated along the coast of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. CSIS estimates that approximately 16% of global maritime trade passes through this vital shipping chokepoint. The United States, France, Italy, and Japan all have bases located less than 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Chinese facility.
Even if military communications are encrypted, the CCP military could potentially gather information about nearby military operations by observing the direction, source, frequency, and transmission rhythm of signals, according to CSIS. The report asserts that these facilities allow the CCP military to have a more comprehensive understanding of the operational environment in the region.
Recent conflicts in the Red Sea and the Middle East have also increased the intelligence value of this base. As of July this year, over 20 US Navy warships, including two carrier strike groups, and hundreds of military aircraft have been supporting operations targeting Iran and the waters around the Hormuz Strait.
The Chinese Embassy in the US did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comments.
In a report released on August 6 by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the Djibouti base was labeled as the CCP Navy’s “logistics hub.” This base, operational since 2017, is China’s only officially acknowledged overseas military facility and is adjacent to the US’s only permanent military base in Africa, Camp Lemonnier.
The US Department of Defense has previously stated that soldiers at the base used laser interference against American aircraft, resulting in minor injuries to US personnel.
CRS also cited a previous evaluation from the Pentagon indicating that China’s national security interests and military activities are primarily focused on East Asia, with limited capabilities for complex or combat military missions beyond China’s immediate surroundings.
According to CRS, an estimated 11% of the CCP military’s military diplomatic activities between 2016 and 2025 took place in Africa.
In 2025, a report from the US Department of Defense revealed that Chinese officials had discussions with Gabonese officials regarding the possibility of establishing a military base in that country. Additionally, China has “likely considered” Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, and Tanzania as potential locations for future military facilities.