50 African countries in China for security forum
News & Trends •
read more18 fifty african countries are currently in beijing china for a three-week security forum for army chiefs on the platform of china-africa defence and security1 the delegates the forum details indicate are discussing a major military roadmap aimed at protecting chinese interests in the continent as well as improving africans response to crisis situations1 opening the discussions the chief of the office for international military cooperation at the central military commission major general hu changming highlighted the need for understanding and cooperation on security matters between africa and china1 the continental military cooperation plan is expected to be approved at the coming china-africa summit scheduled for september in beijing1 the chinese military cooperation with africa at this particular time is being monitored keenly by both washington and brussels1 chinas ever increasing investment in africa need enhanced security protection. china has been relying on african partners for its business protection in moments of most crisis1 in 2011 during the libya civil war china was forced to send its commando and military vessel to rescue some 36000 chinese citizens working in the country1 the meeting started on june 26 runs till july 12 and is part of the preparations for the launch of a strategic security and military cooperation between beijing and africa1 china is involved in more than 3000 infrastructure projects in africa according to the brookings institute a us-based research organisation1 the chinese africa trade volume totalled 220 billion in 20171 the asian giant has in the recent past also used the participation in united nations peace keeping mission to boost its security role in africa. china has 2400 soldiers under the un in south sudan the democratic republic of congo and mali. its navy also deployed in the red sea state of djibouti1 china-built roads railways and port networks across africa connect the major global sea routes. some of the routes traverse highly militarised global waters such as the red sea and the suez canal which is a crucial route to connect chinese trade between asia and europe1 intelligence sharing joint military training and joint operation between china and african partners is expected to be formally announced soon1 the chinese forays have seen some african countries which are close allies of the western world engage in a delicate balancing act1 according to the china-africa research initiative in 2016 there were more than 224400 chinese workers in africa1