Military Bases and Commercial Ports Reveal Strategies to Extend Global Reach | WSJ U.S. vs. China

The U.S. operates hundreds of foreign military bases. China has only one, but military experts say Beijing is also leveraging over 90 commercial ports. WSJ unpacks what’s on these sites and the countries’ differing strategies to expand their global footprint.

Illustration: David Fanner

U.S. vs. China
This original video series explores the rivalry between the two superpowers’ competing efforts to develop the technologies that are reshaping our world.

More from the Wall Street Journal:

#Military #China #WSJ

[davidstiefel]

I was interviewed for this and find it quite misleading in making the overseas presence of the US and China look comparable when they are profoundly quantitatively and qualitatively different. To compare the two is like comparing apples and oranges or, more accurately, watermelons and grapes. There is a profound difference in military capabilities between a network of around 750 US military bases abroad and Chinese port access overseas. The former also costs the US around $80 billion a year, while the Chinese government surely makes money from its port infrastructure overseas. The video fails to note scores of additional locations where the US military has its own port access agreements, not to mention airfield landing rights and resupply materials (neither are part of my bases count). The video also uncritically presents longstanding Pentagon fearmongering about China's search for a second--to now, nonexistent--base in Africa without noting extensive ongoing US base construction near China's borders in East Asia and, more recently, in Europe. The video concludes with the Pentagon's professed concerns about the "lack of transparency" in China's negotiations with port host nations. This is ironic given that US base agreements (and negotiations) with host nations are almost universally kept secret when these de facto treaties should be publicly available.

[sarahjenkins]

I’m surprised the WSJ didn’t list all Chinese restaurants as military bases as well.

[Jry]

Port terminals and military bases are totally different things.

[sweetchiliheat]

Are they comparing an Chinese-owned port to an USA-owned military base? Yep. I seen it right

[alumnia]

Can’t compare military bases and shares in a container port terminal 😂

[maolo]

Soon they will declare all Chinese restaurants as Intelligence hub.

[Alberto-xwvx]

US: +750 military bases abroad.
China: 3 military bases abroad.

Different strategies...yes...yeah

[arminius]

Here's the truth.
🇨🇳 foreign military bases and facilities: 1
🇺🇲 Foreigner military bases and facilities : 800+

[TomNook.]

0:27 You are unashamedly comparing US MILITARY bases with Chinese COMMERCIAL ports. Unbiased press indeed.

[efeddwdw]

Why are we comparing military bases to ports??

[rienvermeulen]

America: We have more then 500 bases in other countries.
China: We have one base in another country
America: The world is doomed china is going for world domination!

[ASK-koqx]

Umm you know you're wrong when you show China having military base in US when America won't allow it.

[datianlongan]

WSJ, you missed counting thousands of Chinese military bases in big cities around the world. They are typically called Chinatown 😅

[sentiencepsn]

Realistically, China does not have the ability to project power globally. At best, you’d be looking at another generation or twenty years of global infrastructure and ship development for them to get there. Just having a network of friendly ports is not sufficient to maintain and operate a modern navy effectively.

[seanpruitt]

The port of sand Diego LA and Long Beach along with Seattle are not in anyway owned by chinese companies. That use to be the case but not anymore. That first map is extremely misleading 😅

[cjfsohv]

Compare military bases with shared commercial ports makes me laugh.

[ErnestJay]

Chinese ports are not military bases, it only use for repair and resupply, meanwhile military base are capable to launch military operation in the region, more than "rearm, repair, and resupply" only.

[RezaurRatul]

I am having fun watching America's propaganda news. Good job Wall Street Journal.

[carved]

I thought this video would compare and contrast how a US base is structured vs how a Chinese base is structured

[thenewwayhome]

This presentation paints a lot of perspectives about Uncle Sam. And then there's China...well. Pretty interesting.