Beijing security forum shows how Chinese military takes belt and road route to Africa
- Analyst says African leaders will be asking for more Chinese security and intelligence expertise
- Foreign ministry identifies political instability and terrorism as obstacles to progress
China is strengthening security ties with African nations as its investments across the continent grow and as the United States reduces its military presence there, analysts say.
On Sunday, Beijing will open the week-long China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, where defence ministers and military chiefs are expected to discuss cooperation, a peace and security fund, and defence capacity building among African states.
China’s presence in Africa has grown beyond its United Nations peacekeeping role, and its sole overseas military base, in Djibouti, plays its part in joint training exercises with allies across the continent, arms sales and intelligence sharing.
Analysts say that while the US and European countries have scaled back their African operations, China has increased its influence with the Belt and Road Initiative and deeper military cooperation with partner nations.
The gathering is expected to continue the work of last year’s Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit in Beijing, where 50 programmes to address counterterrorism, expand military training and step up joint exercises between states were announced.