Local time, there was a fierce armed conflict in Sudan, the situation deteriorated rapidly, and the security risks continued to rise. After Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority announced the closure of its airspace, more than 1,500 Chinese citizens were unable to leave by civilian aircraft. However, the PLA military base in Djibouti appears to have been a key part of evacuating Chinese citizens.
Since its establishment in 2017, the Djibouti base has been tasked with supplying the PLA Navy's escort group in the Gulf of Aden and providing logistical support for African peacekeepers. However, in the face of a sharp deterioration in the situation in Sudan, the base also showed another important role - to help and evacuate Chinese citizens. The armed conflict has affected not only all parts of Sudan, but also the airport in the capital, Khartoum. Even if the Sudanese military temporarily opens its airspace to allow countries to evacuate their nationals, the safety of air evacuations remains worrying.
In such a situation, it is best to have Chinese citizens leave the war zone and provide support through the Djibouti base. Countries such as the United States and South Korea have taken similar action, sending military aircraft and borrowing military bases to ensure the safe evacuation of their citizens.
There are some indications that China has long considered using the Djibouti base to evacuate overseas Chinese. At the same time as the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan, the PLA Navy docked in the port of Djibouti according to the supply plan to provide supplies and reliable support for subsequent escort missions. This shows that the Chinese government has long been prepared for the evacuation of overseas Chinese. The importance of evacuation lies in preparing in advance and acting in a planned manner. In Italy and France, for example, they sent special planes to pick up their citizens, but the French evacuation convoy was attacked en route, injuring a French citizen. Therefore, China has become the best choice under the current situation to concentrate its efforts on the Djibouti base and organize the evacuation of Chinese citizens.
It is noteworthy that the withdrawal is only a temporary solution and cannot be a substitute for political and diplomatic means to resolve the Sudan's internal conflict. Only when the situation in the Sudan stabilizes somewhat will the international community be able to play a greater role in helping the Sudan to achieve peace and stability.
The closure of Sudan's airports and the safe evacuation of Chinese citizens have given rise to the important role of the Djibouti base. The Djibouti base not only plays a key role in maritime missions, but also provides support for the safe evacuation of Chinese citizens. The importance of evacuation lies in advance preparation and orderly action to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens. However, the withdrawal was only a temporary solution, and the international community needed to work together to resolve the internal conflict in Sudan through political and diplomatic means. The PLA's operations at the Djibouti base provide some guarantees for the evacuation of Chinese citizens, but this does not mean that the evacuation operation will be smooth sailing. Against the backdrop of civil strife and fighting in the Sudan, the withdrawal operation itself is fraught with challenges and risks.
The security situation in the Sudan is extremely complex and volatile. The confrontation between the armed forces of the parties has plunged the entire country into chaos and instability. In this case, the evacuation operation may well be interfered with and attacked by militants. This is a huge threat to both evacuees and military personnel carrying out evacuation missions and requires careful response.
Sudan's transportation and infrastructure are in dire shape. The spread of fighting led to the destruction and blockade of airports and roads, making evacuation operations extremely difficult. Even if the Sudanese military temporarily opens its airspace and roads, there is no complete guarantee that the withdrawal operation will proceed smoothly. This requires the PLA base in Djibouti to give full play to its logistical support capabilities and provide sufficient materials and support to ensure the smooth progress of the evacuation operation.
The humanitarian crisis caused by the civil war in the Sudan also needs attention. Massive displacement and loss of life have left many people stranded and in urgent need of rescue and assistance. While withdrawing from operations, the PLA also needs to pay attention to and actively participate in humanitarian assistance, provide help and support to the local people, and alleviate their suffering.
Judging from the whole incident, the actions of the People's Liberation Army at the Djibouti base demonstrate China's active role and responsibility in international affairs. As a responsible major country, China is concerned not only about the safety of its citizens, but also about the peace, stability and humanitarian situation in Sudan. Through the support and evacuation of the Djibouti base, China has demonstrated to the international community its determination and ability to maintain regional stability and promote humanitarian causes.
The evacuation also brought valuable lessons to China. In the event of similar incidents in the future, China can further improve its evacuation plan, strengthen communication and cooperation with all parties, and improve its crisis response capacity and security guarantee. At the same time, China should also strengthen coordination and cooperation with the international community, make joint efforts to resolve regional conflicts and promote the peace process.
The closure of Sudan's airport and the safe evacuation of Chinese citizens have triggered an important role for the Djibouti base. The PLA's operations in Djibouti provided critical support for the withdrawal, but the withdrawal itself faces many challenges and risks. The incident also reminds us that resolving regional conflicts requires more political and diplomatic means, and that withdrawal is only a temporary solution. China will continue to play an active role in contributing to peace and stability, and at the same time learn from lessons learned and continuously improve its crisis management and response capabilities.
In dealing with this emergency, the Chinese government must make informed decisions based on the actual situation, taking into account a variety of factors, including security risks, transportation conditions, diplomatic consultations, and humanitarian assistance. In communication and cooperation with the Sudanese government and the international community, China needs to actively participate in conflict resolution efforts, promote the parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiation, and create more favorable conditions for withdrawal.
China also needs to strengthen cooperation with Djibouti and other countries to jointly develop effective withdrawal plans and security measures. The existence of the Djibouti base has provided China with important logistical support and supplies, but at the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the safety of the base and ensure the smooth progress of the evacuation operation.
The evacuation of Chinese citizens should be safe, orderly and humane. In the process of implementation, China should pay attention to organization and coordination to ensure the smooth progress of all actions. This includes the coordination and communication of information release, personnel arrangement, traffic allocation and other links to protect the interests and safety of Chinese citizens to the greatest extent.
In resolving the Sudanese civil war and similar conflicts, withdrawal is only a temporary solution. The fundamental solution is to promote the stability of the peace process and national governance through political and diplomatic means. As a responsible major country, China should actively participate in the efforts of the international community and promote the settlement of disputes between the parties to the conflict through dialogue and negotiation.
In the future challenges, China needs to further enhance its ability to respond to emergencies and crises, strengthen cooperation and coordination with all parties, and ensure the safety and well-being of Chinese citizens abroad. At the same time, China will continue to sum up lessons learned and improve evacuation plans and emergency response mechanisms to better cope with the occurrence of similar incidents.
The closure of Sudan's airport and the safe evacuation of Chinese citizens underscore the important role of the PLA's base in Djibouti, providing critical support and guarantees for Chinese citizens. However, in the face of the complex situation of the Sudanese civil war, the withdrawal operation still faces challenges and risks. China needs to continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination with Sudan and other relevant parties, strive to resolve regional conflicts, and make positive contributions to peace and stability. At the same time, China should strengthen its crisis management and response capabilities to better meet future challenges.