China eyes navy presence in Seychelles

China is considering an offer from the Seychelles to host Chinese naval ships while conducting antipiracy missions, according to both governments, The Wall Street Journal reported. Jean-Paul Adam, Seychelles’ foreign minister, said his government had first proposed the idea of a Chinese military “presence” in his country in 2010. Chinese naval ships would regularly visit ports in the Seychelles to collect supplies and allow their crews to rest, but they wouldn’t be permanently based there under the proposal. The Seychelles has also suggested China base military reconnaissance aircraft and personnel at its main airports where the US bases surveillance drones, Adams said. Analysts said that the archipelago is a potential strategic platform for China to compete for naval dominance of the Indian Ocean with the US and India. “Such acts are completely transparent and should not worry other countries. China has never set up military bases in other countries,” said Liu Weimin, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman.