Peace and security issues in China’s cooperation with African states

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Peace and security issues in China’s cooperation with African states
// Pathways to Peace and Security. 2023. No 2 (65). P. 123-147
DOI: 10.20542/2307-1494-2023-2-123-147

Abstract. China pays growing attention to security issues as it sees security policy as an integral component of sustainable development. The article analyzes new trends in Chinese foreign and security policy in Africa. China, which adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of African states, does not participate in armed confrontation, but acts as an influential player in global diplomacy. The article examines the threats posed to China by conflicts and terrorist attacks in which Chinese companies operating on the continent are often targeted. The purpose of the article is to assess the scale of these threats and analyze steps Beijing has taken to protect its citizens and businesses abroad. These policies and measures include China’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Africa and creation of 50 new security programs in accordance with the 2019–2021 China–Africa Action Plan. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has upgraded its Military Training Center to train international peacekeepers, many of whom are Africans. China trains several hundred African officers annually at schools such as China Military Academy, Dalian Naval Academy, Air Force Aviation Academy, and the PLA National Defense University. The PLA Navy participates in international anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea. The authors view China’s expansion of maritime cooperation with Africa through anti-piracy patrols as part of its geopolitical and economic strategy. Peacekeeping missions are often complemented by high-level Chinese mediation efforts: Beijing has taken initiatives to resolve conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, and offered to mediate in the border conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti. Finally, China’s role as one of the main arms suppliers to sub-Saharan Africa is explored.

中国与非洲国家合作中的和平安全问题

中国高度重视安全问题,认为解决安全问题是可持续发展的必要组成部分。 本文分析了中国对非外交政策的新动向。中国坚持不干涉非洲国家内政原则,不参与武装对抗,而是在全球外交中扮演有影响力的角色。文章探讨了冲突和恐怖袭击对中国构成的威胁,在非洲大陆运营的中国公司经常成为攻击目标。本文的目的是评估威胁的规模以及北京为保护海外公民和企业所采取的措施。中国积极参与在非维和行动。根据《中非行动计划2019-2021》创建了50 个新的安全项目。中国人民解放军升级了国际维和人员培训教学中心,维和人员中有很多非洲人。每年数百名军官在中国军事学院、大连海军学院、空军航空学院、国防大学培训。中国海军参加亚丁湾、几内亚湾国际反海盗巡逻。通过反海盗巡逻扩大中国与非洲的海上合作是其地缘政治和经济战略的一部分。维和行动往往得到中国高层调解努力的补充。例如:北京在苏丹民主共和国、南苏丹、津巴布韦的调解举措,以及愿意调解厄立特里亚和吉布提之间的边境冲突。中国是撒哈拉以南非洲地区的主要武器供应国之一。

Keywords: China, Africa, peace, security, conflicts, peacekeeping, United Nations, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)

关键词:中国、非洲、和平、安全、冲突、维和、联合国、解放军、一带一路。


About author

Tatyana Deich is a lead researcher of the Center for Russian-African Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Olga Kulkova is a lead researcher, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.


For citation:
Deich T., Kulkova O. Peace and security issues in China’s cooperation with African states // Pathways to Peace and Security. 2023. No 2 (65). P. 123-147. https://doi.org/10.20542/2307-1494-2023-2-123-147



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