On China’s Military Diplomacy in Africa

Zhixiong, Shen

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-52893-9_6

Shen Zhixiong⁵

1460 Accesses
1 Citations

Abstract

This chapter provides a survey of the central tenets of China’s military diplomacy in Africa and insight into China’s lead institutions involved in this process. The policies and conduct of China’s military, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), operating in Africa and their perception of the challenges they experience, as well as the complex policy environment, are explored. This assessment argues that China should strengthen strategic coordination, support the building of African Peace and Security Architecture, communication with Western countries, nontraditional security cooperation, and public diplomacy by the PLA.

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Notes

1.
Jonathan Holslag (2009), ‘China’s Vulnerability in Africa and Options for Security Cooperation with Europe,’ Clingendael Asia Forum, 11 December 11, http://www.Clingendael.nl/asia/forum.
2.
Andrew Cottey and Anthony Forster (2005), Reshaping Defence Diplomacy: New Roles for Military Cooperation and Assistance (Oxford: Oxford University Press), p. 7
3.
The Strategic Defence Review White Paper 1998, Ministry of Defence, UK, p. 22, http://www.parliament.uk/Templates/BriefingPapers/Pages/BPPdfDownload.aspx?bp-id=RP98-91.
4.
‘Defence Diplomacy,’ Policy Papers, No. 1, Ministry of Defence, UK 2000b, http://www.mod.uk/issues/cooperation/diplomacy.htm/.
5.
China’s National Defence (1998), Information Office of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China, July 1998, http://www.china.org.cn/e-white/5/index.htm.
6.
See for example, Xiong Wuyi and Zhou Jiafa, eds. (2000), Military Encyclopedia (Beijing: Great Wall Publishing House), p. 1240; Qian Qichen, ed. (2005), Dictionary on World’s Diplomacy (Beijing: World Affairs Press), p. 956; Zhu Meisheng, eds. (1999), An Introduction of Military Thoughts (Beijing: National Defence University Press), p. 1; etc.
7.
Guo Xinning (2010), On Military Diplomacy and China’s Practice (Beijing: National Defence University Press), p. 94.
8.
Wang Qiaobao (2013), ‘China’s Military Diplomacy in the Last Decade—Retrospect and Prospect,’ Global Review, 2, p. 21.
9.
Xu Weizhong (2010), ‘Chinese Participation in African Security Cooperation and Its Tendency,’ West Asia and Africa, 11, p. 12.
10.
Ibid.
11.
Ibid., pp. 86–88.
12.
Ibid., p. 95.
13.
Kossi Ayenagbo et al (2012), ‘China’s Peacekeeping Operations in Africa: From Unwilling Participation to Responsible Contribution,’ African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, 6:2, p. 22.
14.
Xie Yixian, ed. (2009), Contemporary History of China’s Diplomacy, 1949–2009 (Beijing: Chinese Youth Press), p. 516.
15.
Luo Jianbo (2013), ‘Why Sino-African Relationship so Important?,’ Study Times, 1 April 1.
16.
Chinese MOFA (2006), China’s African Policy, January, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx/t230615.htm.
17.
Ibid.
18.
Lu Shaye (2013), ‘Seizing Opportunities and Overcoming Difficulties to Promote the Development of China-Africa Relations,’ China International Studies, 2, p. 4.
19.
The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces, Information Office of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China, April 2013, http://eng.mod.gov.cn/Database/WhitePapers/.
20.
China’s African Policy.
21.
Ibid.
22.
China’s Peaceful Development, Information Office of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China, September 2011, http://english.gov.cn/official/2011-09/06/content_1941354.htm.
23.
Joshua Cooper Ramo (2007), ‘Brand China,’ Working Paper, No. 827, The Foreign Policy Centre, February 2007.
24.
Qian Lihua (2012), ‘Proactively Forging Ahead and Innovating Military Diplomacy,’ Qiu Shi Theory, 15, p. 48.
25.
Jonathan Holslag (2008), ‘China’s Next Security Strategy for Africa,’ BICCS Asia Paper, 3:6, p. 15.
26.
Saferworld (2011), China’s Growing Role in African Peace and Security, Saferworld Report, January, 2011. p. 38.
27.
Holslag, ‘China’s Next Security Strategy for Africa,’ p. 10.
28.
Qian Lihua (2009), ‘Review of China’s Military Diplomacy in the Past 60 Years,’ Qiu Shi Theory, 18, p. 28.
29.
Weizhong, ‘Chinese Participation in African Security Cooperation and Its Tendency,’ p. 14.
30.
David H. Shinn (2008), ‘Military and Security Relations: China, Africa, and the Rest of the World’, in Robert I. Rotberg, ed., China into Africa: Trade, Aid and Influence (Washington, DC: Brookings Institute Press), p. 163.
31.
Wang Xuejun (2012), ‘Review on China’s Engagement in African Peace and Security,’ China International Studies, 32, January/February 2012, p. 34.
32.
China’s National Defense in 2010, Information Office of the State Council, The People’s Republic of China, March 2011, http://english.gov.cn/official/2011-03/31/content_1835499_11.htm.
33.
‘Wei Fenghe Meeting with All Participants of Seminar of Presidents of Francophonie-African Military Institutions,’ China MOD, May 31, 2011, http://news.mod.gov.cn/diplomacy/2011-05/31/content_4244597.htm.
34.
Shinn, Military and Security Relations: China, Africa, and the Rest of the World, p. 161.
35.
Holslag, ‘China’s Next Security Strategy for Africa,’ p. 11.
36.
Xuejun, ‘Review on China’s Engagement in African Peace and Security,’ p. 34.
37.
Xiao Tianliang (n.d.), ed., Military Diplomacy of PRC (Beijing: National Defence University Press), p. 206.
38.
China’s National Defense in 2008, Information Office of the State Council, the People’s Republic of China, January 2009, http://english.gov.cn/official/2009-01/20/content_1210227.htm.
39.
Ibid.
40.
China’s National Defense in 2010.
41.
The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces.
42.
Ibid.
43.
Bates Gill and Chin-Hao Huang (2009), ‘China’s Expanding Role in Peacekeeping: Prospects and Policy Implications,’ SIPRI Policy Paper, 25, November 2009, p. 26.
44.
The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces.
45.
Qiaobao, ‘China’s Military Diplomacy in the Last Decade,’ p. 22.
46.
Holslag, ‘China’s Next Security Strategy for Africa,’ pp. 10, 15.
47.
China’s African Policy.
48.
Shaye, ‘Seizing Opportunities and Overcoming Difficulties to Promote the Development of China-Africa Relations,’ p. 4.
49.
Holslag, ‘China’s Next Security Strategy for Africa,’ p. 12.
50.
Ibid, p. 10.
51.
Gill and Huang, ‘China’s Expanding Role in Peacekeeping,’ p. 27.
52.
Kossi Ayenagbo et al, ‘China’s Peacekeeping Operations in Africa,’ p. 32.
53.
The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces.
54.
‘National Defence University Comprehensively Facilitate Training Foreign Military,’ Jiefanjun Bao, March 15, 2009.
55.
Lihua, ‘Proactively Forging Ahead and Innovating Military Diplomacy,’ p. 48.
56.
Xuejun, ‘Review on China’s Engagement in African Peace and Security,’ p. 41.
57.
Li Anshan (2013), ‘Obama’s Africa Trip and Implications for China,’ The Contemporary World, 10, p. 33.
58.
Ibid.
59.
Liu Guijin (2012), ‘Foreign Assistance and Hijack: Problems and Dilemma of China-Africa Relations,’ World Affairs, 4, p. 33.
60.
Shaye, ‘Seizing Opportunities and Overcoming Difficulties to Promote the Development of China-Africa Relations,’ p. 6.
61.
‘Turbulent Africa and Virginian for Chinese Migrants,’ Xinhua, November 15, 2013, http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2013-11/15/c_125705827.htm.
62.
The Diversified Employment of China’s Armed Forces.
63.
‘Xi Jinping Delivers a Speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Tanzania, Stressing China and Africa Will Always Remain Reliable Friends and Faithful Partners,’ Chinese MOFA, March 25, 2013, http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/topics/xjpcf1/t1025803.shtml.
64.
Open Up New Prospects for A New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership, Speech by H.E. Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China, At the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Beijing, 19 July 2012, http://www.focac.org/eng/ltda/dwjbzjjhys/zyjh/t953172.htm.
65.
Zhang Chun (2009), ‘“Development-Security Nexus”: The African Policies of China, EU and USA,’ Chinese Journal of European Studies, 3, p. 86.
66.
Shaye, ‘Seizing Opportunities and Overcoming Difficulties to Promote the Development of China-Africa Relations,’ p. 2.
67.
Wang Hongyi (2013), ‘Finding the Way for Cooperation Between China and America in Africa,’ China International Studies, 2.

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Political Science, College of International Relations, Renmin University, Beijing, China
Shen Zhixiong

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Editors and Affiliations

Department of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, United Kingdom
Chris Alden
African Leadership Centre, School of Global Affairs, King’s College London , London, United Kingdom
Abiodun Alao
Institute for Foreign Policy Studies, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, Shanghai, China
Zhang Chun
Political and Security Analyst, London, United Kingdom
Laura Barber

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Zhixiong, S. (2018). On China’s Military Diplomacy in Africa. In: Alden, C., Alao, A., Chun, Z., Barber, L. (eds) China and Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52893-9_6

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52893-9_6
Published: 21 August 2017
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
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