World · The New York Times · Oct 8, 2026, 8:44 AM ET

China Builds New Laos Airstrip, Eyes Bigger Jets

Original headline: China Expands Its Military Reach by Building a Base in Laos · By Chris Buckley and Josh Holder

The new runway in Ban Keun is currently used by only small jets. Neighboring nations are watching warily to see if Beijing expands it for larger aircraft.