BEIJING (Sputnik) — The ceremony of Chinese sailors embarking to the base in Djibouti was held in the Chinese southeastern city of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, according to the website of the defense ministry. Around 10,000 personnel will reportedly be deployed in the center.
In February, 2016, China announced it was building a logistical facility in Djibouti. The naval logistics center was expected to provide Chinese patrol boats in the Gulf of Aden and other areas, to serve as refuel and restock site for Chinese vessels as well as to provide recreation facilities to sailors, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian.
Djibouti borders on Somalia and is located on the Horn of Africa, plagued by piracy. China has been actively participating in anti-piracy measures in the region, with reported 16,000 sailors and 1,300 marines serving in the Gulf of Aden between 2008 and 2015.
