China opens a joint military pilot training base in Laos at an airfield that previously served as a CIA facility, according to multiple outlets. The move is reported as a new site for flight-related training between China and Laos.

Different sources characterize the development differently. The Times of India frames it as a newly opened Chinese military base. The Economist reports that both governments describe the site as a pilot school rather than a conventional air base, implying a training focus. Nikkei Asia describes the facility as a joint military pilot training base, aligning with the “training” interpretation while still placing it within a broader military cooperation context.

Taken together, the reporting suggests the governments acknowledge a China–Laos military aviation training facility at the former CIA airfield, while external coverage varies in emphasis between “base” language and the stated purpose as a pilot training operation. The outlets do not provide contrasting technical details, but they do differ in framing the strategic significance.