China’s ability to project its naval power in the Indian Ocean, as well as its continued build-up of the nuclear arsenal, is of great concern to the United States, said two top U.S. military officials in recent congressional hearings. Beijing’s naval power now includes aircraft carriers after China has modernized its military base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, according to Gen. Stephen Townsend, the head of U.S. Africa Command. “Their first overseas military base, their only one, is in Africa, and they have just expanded that by adding a significant pier that can even support their aircraft carriers in the future. Around the continent, they are looking for other basing opportunities,” Townsend told the House Armed Services Committee on April 20. Beijing opened its base in Djibouti in 2017 and it sits just 7.4 miles (12 kilometers) from Camp Lemonnier, which is home to about 4,500 American military …