Reuters has been told by three Japanese government sources that Tokyo plans to expand its military base in Djibouti by leasing another parcel of land.
By Eduard Onyshchenko (http://spotters.net.ua/file/?id=73742&size=large) [GFDL or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
The move is seen as a counterweight against China, which is building a naval base in the country.
Besides expanding the area it operates, sources said Japan is mulling the deployment of C-130s there. Currently, Japan has a contingent of P-3s in Djibouti.