China Hits Back at US over Kenyan Military Base Claims

China has reacted to claims by the US that it is planning to set up a military base in Kenya as part of its plan to extend its power to Africa.

The US Department of Defense in a report dated September 1st claimed that the Chinese government was eyeing military logistics bases in several African and Asian countries in a move aimed at strengthening its military muscles.

The Pentagon annual “China Military Power” report to Congress mentioned Kenya, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola, and Tajikistan as the countries China is looking to set up the People's Liberation Army (PLA) military logistics facilities in.

The department noted that China and Kenya were in active talks regarding the establishment of the military outpost.

"The PRC has probably already made overtures to Namibia, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Known focus areas of PLA planning are along the SLOCs (Sea Lines of communication) from China to the Strait of Hormuz, Africa, and the Pacific Islands," The Pentagon reports states.

But China through its Nairobi embassy dismissed the information contained in the Pentagon report, terming it false.

“The information mentioned is totally false. Their (Pentagon) latest report is just the same as the previous fact-neglecting and bias-brimming,” Xueqing Huang, the Chief of Information and Public Affairs Section for the Embassy of China in Kenya, told Business Daily.

“The Chinese MFA [Ministry of Foreign Affairs] spokesperson has urged them to stop issuing irresponsible reports year after year, and ‘abandon the outdated cold-war mentality and zero-sum game mindset,’” he added.

Kenya has not responded to the US report.