“Situated in the Horn of Africa – adjacent to one of the world’s busiest shipping routes – Djibouti has a population of less than one million and is home to China’s first overseas military base. With access to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean beyond, the area is a gateway into Northeast Africa and the Red Sea region.”

Source: From rail and airports to its first overseas naval base, China zeroes in on tiny Djibouti | South China Morning Post