The New York Times published on 7 September 2023 a commentary titled "China's Military Is Going Global" by Craig Singleton, China analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington.
China is establishing "strategic strong points" along its major trade, energy, and resource routes, especially those that run from China through the Malacca Strait and into the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
The Maritime Executive published on 5 April 2023 an article titled "Controversial Chinese 'Spy Ship' Calls at Durban."
On 29 March, the Chinese satellite tracking and missile telemetry ship Yuan Wang 5 called at the Port of Durban in South Africa. The ship belongs to the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force. The visit signals South Africa's increasing alignment with Chinese and Russian interests following a trilateral naval exercise among the three nations in February.
