Beijing, December 13
Seeking to allay fears about its first overseas facility in Seychelles, China today said "other countries" should not worry about its naval ships frequenting a port in the strategically-located Indian Ocean island nation for "supply and stopover".

"Seychelles welcomed the Chinese escort mission and invited Chinese vessels to stop at the port of Seychelles for supply and stopover during Chinese ship's Escort Mission," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Weimin told a media briefing here today.

Chinese vessels have stopped over at the Djibouti, Oman and other countries for supply which, he said, is "normal international practice and based on our demand and needs in our escort mission's China will consider stopping over at ports of other countries for supply".

"Such acts are completely transparent and should not worry other countries," he said. Asked whether the facilities included troops and planes on the ground, he said "I have not heard of this issue". "On this issue, China's position is clear. China has never set up military bases in other countries," he said, reiterating Beijing's long-standing policy of not establishing permanent military bases abroad.

With regard to China's actions in Darfur, Liberia and other conflict ridden areas, its missions are under the mandate of UN and these actions have also been well received by other countries, he said.

Meanwhile, Chinese military analysts told the media China's plan to establish "supply and recuperation" facilities in Seychelles do not amount to setting up a military base.

"The navy is considering taking on supplies in the Seychelles while conducting escort missions to tackle piracy. Military experts stressed that the move did not equate to establishing military base," state-run China Daily said.

The Chinese Defence Ministry said yesterday that that its naval fleet may seek supplies or recuperate at appropriate harbours in Seychelles or other countries as needed during escort missions.

Speculation of a military base was rife following comments by Seychelles Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Paul Adam that his country has invited China to set up a military presence in his country.

"We have invited the Chinese government to set up a military presence on Mahe to fight the pirate attacks that the Seychelles face on a regular basis. For the time being China is studying this possibility because she has economic interests in the region and Beijing is also involved in the fight against piracy," Adam said during recent visit by Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie.

"As China will not send troops to protect the supply stop in the Seychelles, by no means can it be called an overseas military base," the Daily quoted Li Jie, a professor at the Naval Military Studies Research Institute as saying.

Beijing has repeatedly confirmed that its policy of not stationing troops abroad will not be altered. — PTI