By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-12-29 08:09:38 | Updated at 2025-01-01 04:03:51
2 days ago
When Chinese destroyer Nanning, frigate Sanya and supply ship Weishanhu made a port call in Gabon in July last year, the Chinese navy was happy to help repair some equipment on the Gabonese frigate Mbini.
While they were there, the Chinese sailors also showed their counterparts how to use weapons and equipment, plus they carried out anti-terrorism, anti-piracy and rescue operations with them.
The Chinese naval stop in Gabon was just one of five visits to countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea on Africa’s Atlantic coastline during that trip to Africa. It is a gulf that stretches 5,700km (3,540 miles) from Senegal all the way down to Angola.
It is an important trade route and a region that is rich in oil – and it is a part of the world where China has been increasing its military engagement, paying port calls, holding joint drills, training and giving financial support to Gulf of Guinea countries.
China is emerging as an influential security player. It is growing its peacekeeping troop contributions, increasing the number of scholarships for study in Chinese military academies, and since 2017 joint naval exercises have become more frequent in West Africa.
According to experts, the increase in China’s military engagement with Gulf of Guinea countries is no coincidence. The Gulf of Guinea is a dangerous place, rife with pirate attacks and kidnappings, which gives Beijing the opportunity to both protect China’s African interests and citizens, and test the People’s Liberation Army’s abilities.
