Laos-China air base narrative debunked; facility is support/training hub

The Diplomat challenges alarmist claims that the Laos-China Support and Training Center is a major PLA air base, arguing the facility is limited in scope and reflects routine capacity-building. The piece underscores a gap between Western threat assessments and on-the-ground evidence, with implications for regional basing debates. Uncertainty remains over future expansion, but current capabilities appear modest.