Why China picked Djibouti as its first military base abroad

Six countries' troops are within spitting distance of one other in the African port of Djibouti (ja Boot' ee). These countries are the United States, China, Japan, France, Spain, and Germany.

Djibouti is one of the world's busiest shipping ports. It is twelve miles from the Asian country of Yemen. These two countries border the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and the Gulf of Eden. Djibouti borders these seas at Africa's most eastern point commonly known as "The Horn of Africa".

Either Djibouti or Yemen could act as a choking point for closing the shipping routes from Europe, through Egypt's Suez Canal, down Africa's eastern coast to India, China, and other points east. 

The first video is from RT (Russian Television).

China selected Djibouti as its first military base abroad.

The second video explains why Djibouti is important militarily to so many countries. 

Both videos run about three minutes each.

China dispatched members of its armed forces, the People's Liberation Army, to its first overseas military base. It is located on the Horn of Africa and will support anti-piracy, humanitarian relief and UN peacekeeping missions. RT America's Manila Chan has the story.

Why Does The U.S. Have So Many Military Bases Overseas? http://bit.ly/1RTvbEs Which Countries Spend The Most On Their Military? http://bit.ly/1r6rJAj Subscribe! http://bitly.com/1iLOHml Located in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti hosts troops from the U.S., China and France. So why is Djibouti so popular for military bases?

Djibouti was the first route exit Africa, into Asia.