Why did Laos, which has no coastline, set up a huge naval force?
As we all know, as a landlocked country, it stands to reason that Laos does not need to have a navy, but in fact Laos' naval strength in Southeast Asia is not bad. According to statistics, the total strength of Laos is only more than 60,000 people, but the navy has about 2,000 people, which is very rare for a landlocked country, so why can Laos develop such an excellent navy without even a coastline?
In fact, this is what Laos needs to deal with in a complex situation. First of all, Laos has a special geographical location, the environment between Qi and Chu is difficult, and Laos is a country along the Mekong River, surrounded by relatively powerful countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The division of islands on the Mekong River has become a dispute between Laos and Thailand, Laos has an important strategic position and has a significant impact on the future war situation, and the role of the Mekong River for Laos is self-evident, and if Laos wants to dominate the Mekong, it must develop a strong navy.
Secondly, the Golden Triangle region bordering Laos, Myanmar and Thailand is a haven for drug traffickers with strong armed forces, and the Mekong River is also extremely important to drug traffickers in the Golden Triangle region. The Golden Triangle poses a serious threat not only to the security of neighboring countries, but also to the security of the national society, and the Mekong River is the link between drug traffickers in the Golden Triangle region, so Laos needs to build a strong navy to maintain peace and stability in the country.
Finally, Laos is rich in natural resources and must use the Mekong River to develop its national economy. Laos is rich in hydropower resources, which can not only fully meet domestic demand, but also provide a large amount of electricity to foreign countries, which is an important economic resource for Laos, so Laos needs to build a strong navy to maintain the stability of the Mekong River and protect the safety of the country's hydropower stations. In short, the most important reason for Laos to build a strong navy is to maintain peace and stability on the Mekong River, ensure the normal functioning of the country, and prepare for future wars that may break out at any time.
As a landlocked country, why should Laos build a navy of 2,000 people?