China: Turkish military base in Doha threatens regional security

CAIRO – 5 July 2017: Chinese political and military analysts said the existence of a Turkish military base in Doha poses a threat to the Arab region’s national security, Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

According to Chinese analysts, the Turkish base further deepens the rift between Qatar and the Arab states currently boycotting the small Gulf nation.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have issued a list of 13 demands for Doha to end the crisis, including reducing its ties with Iran, closing the Al Jazeera TV station and ceasing their financial support to terrorist entities.

The demands was presented by Kuwait, which is mediating the crisis since the four Arab states cut ties with Qatar on June 5.

In the list, Qatar is required to terminate its construction of a Turkish military base and stop any joint military cooperation with Turkey on Qatari territories.

The Arab countries gave Qatar 10 days to comply or ties would remain severed. After the given period had elapsed, an extra 48 hours were given to the tiny emirate.

One day following the announcement of the boycott, the four Arab countries imposed a partial land, sea and air embargo on Qatari-owned means of transport, including state-owned Qatar Airways.

Qatar has denied all the accusations against it, calling them “unjustified.”

During the crisis, Turkey and Iran have sided with Qatar and provided food and military aid to it to help during the blockade.