US defense and intelligence officials have reportedly assessed that Chinese military personnel were stationed at a UAE military base after the US was denied access to the facility, according to two former senior US officials who spoke to Middle East Eye (MEE) on condition of anonymity. The officials revealed that members of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) were hosted at Zayed Military City in Abu Dhabi, with the assessment dating back to 2020. The US began gathering more information on the base after its request to access a section of the facility was rejected. While the exact role of the PLA personnel remains unclear, concerns were raised that they could have used the base to gather intelligence on US forces stationed nearby at Al Dhafra Air Base, just 20 miles south of Abu Dhabi. The UAE’s growing military ties with China have strained its relationship with the US, particularly amid stalled negotiations over the sale of F-35 warplanes to the UAE. In 2021, reports emerged of China building a military port near Abu Dhabi, which was allegedly halted at the US’s request but later resumed. The UAE and China have openly acknowledged their military cooperation, including joint air force drills in China’s Xinjiang region in 2024. The US has expressed concerns over China’s increasing influence in the Gulf, with some officials warning that the UAE’s loyalty to the US may be wavering. Despite these tensions, the UAE remains a key US partner in the region, particularly in counterterrorism efforts and its strategic relationship with Israel under the Abraham Accords.