Will China Pursue a Military Base on Africa's Atlantic Coast?

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 10 March 2026 an article titled "Will China Pursue a Military Base in Africa's Atlantic Ocean?" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.  

The author argues that contrary to conventional wisdom in US military circles, China is not particularly interested in having a military base on Africa's Atlantic coast.  It would represent a massive logistical overextension at a time when China needs to concentrate naval power close to home.  Such a base would be highly exposed and vulnerable to attack, making it a strategic liability rather than an asset.  In any event, by investing extensively in West African commercial ports, China has access, at least in peace time, for PLA Navy port calls.  

Comment:  While the author makes some good points, it was generally thought that China, which professed publicly that it did not believe in military bases outside China, would not establish a military base in Djibouti--until it did.  

International Competition in the Gulf of Guinea

 The Al Jazeera Centre for Studies published on 27 January 2025 an analysis titled "The New Battleground: Competing International Interests in the Gulf of Guinea" by Hakeem Alade Najimdeen, a Nigerian researcher.  

The author looks at the interests of the United States, China, Russia, France, United Kingdon, India, Turkey, and Japan in the Gulf of Guinea and the competition among these countries for influence there.  

China Seeks To Secure Dual Use Ports and Supply Lines in Africa

 The Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies published on 14 March 2024 an analysis titled "China in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sanction-Proof Supply Lines and Dual-Use Ports" by Benedict Hamlyn.

Beijing's strategy in Africa is to court foreign policy influence in order to sanction-proof supply chains and develop dual-use ports for both commercial and military purposes.  The author concludes that as the US-China relationship moves into stormier waters, China will continue to expand its naval reach and supply chain resilience, particularly as its declining economic surplus will see it concentrate financing on geostrategically important locations off the Atlantic coast and in the Indian Ocean.

Is China Looking for a Base in West Africa?

 The Diplomat published on 20 February 2024 a commentary titled "China Continues Its Search for a Maritime Presence in West Africa" by Lea Thome.

The author suggests China is continuing its effort to identify a location in West Africa for a naval facility.  The current focus is on Gabon.   

China Shops for Military Base on Africa's Atlantic Coast

 The Wall Street Journal published on 10 February 2024 an article titled "U.S.-China Tensions Have a New Front: A Naval Base in Africa" by Michael M. Phillips.

As China seeks permission to establish a naval base on Africa's Atlantic coastline, the United States is working behind the scenes to prevent it from happening.  So far, the United States has been winning the contest, which has been playing out in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.  

Equatorial Guinea: Chinese Base or Democracy Principles?

 Foreign Policy published on 12 December 2022 an article titled "Biden Plays Nice with Equatorial Guinea to Spoil China's Atlantic Ambitions" by Robbie Gramer, Amy Mackinnon, and Jack Detsch.  

Several senior US officials have visited Equatorial Guinea in an effort to convince President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo not to give China permission to establish a military base there.  The Biden administration also invited President Obiang to attend the US-Africa Leaders Summit.  The downside of this decision is that it sends a negative signal to human rights and democracy activists in Africa.  

A Chinese Naval Base in Equatorial Guinea?

 Japan Forward published on 7 December 2022 a commentary titled "The Security Implications of a Chinese Military Base in Equatorial Guinea" by Monika Chansoria. 

There have been persistent rumors that China is negotiating with Equatorial Guinea for construction of a naval base at the mainland port of Bata.  

Comment:  The article does not provide any new evidence to support this rumor, although China's naval base in Djibouti was also a surprise.   

More Chinese Military Bases in Africa?

 Foreign Policy published on 16 August 2022 an article titled "More Chinese Military Bases in Africa: A Question of When, Not If" by Eric A. Miller, US Africa Command's director of intelligence analysis.

China has likely considered 14 countries for military basing access, including Angola, Kenya, the Seychelles, and Tanzania.  The author argues that silence and apathy by the West will ensure a Chinese base in West Africa becomes a matter of when, not if.  

Is China Planning Another Military Base in Africa?

 The South China Morning Post published on 31 May 2022 an article titled "Do China's Africa Ambitions Include a Second Military Base?" by Jevans Nyabiage.  

While the US and Indian sources predict that China intends to establish another military base in Africa, perhaps on the Atlantic coast, Chinese sources deny that Beijing has any such intention.  

Is China Seeking Another Naval Base in Africa?

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 12 May 2022 an analysis titled "Considerations for a Prospective New Chinese Naval Base in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.

Chinese military analysts have debated its foreign basing scenarios since the early 1990s, and all Chinese defense white papers since then have called for improving overseas logistical facilities to accomplish "diversified military tasks."  The author evaluates the prospects for a second Chinese military base (after Djibouti) in Africa and notes commonly rumored locations include Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and Namibia on the Atlantic Ocean.

China Seeking Military Base on Africa's Atlantic Coast?

 The Sandboxx blog of  Alex Hollings posted on 18 March 2022 a commentary titled "China Wants a Navy Base in Africa that Would Put America's East Coast in Reach."

The author makes a case why China may be interested in establishing a naval base on Africa's Atlantic Coast.  

A Chinese Naval Base in West Africa?

 Foreign Policy posted on 3 March 2022 a commentary titled "Fears of a Chinese Naval Base in West Africa Are Overblown" by Cobus van Staden, South African Institute of International Affairs.

The author pours cold water on the reports, mostly from the Wall Street Journal, that China wants to locate a second military base in Africa, this one on the Atlantic Coast, possibly in Equatorial Guinea.  He suggests the reports reveal more about Washington's priorities than Beijing's.

Comment:  I have no idea what intelligence the US has suggesting that China wants to establish a military base in Equatorial Guinea.  But I was surprised that China decided to open in 2017 a full-fledged military base in Djibouti.  Cobus, did you foresee the opening of the base in Djibouti?

Is China Seeking Military Base on Africa's Atlantic Coast?

 South World published on 1 February 2022 a commentary titled "Gulf of Guinea: The New Hotspot of the US-China Rivalry" by Francois Misser.

The article reviews alleged recent contacts by China to obtain permission to establish a military base at ports on Africa's Atlantic coast to the consternation of the United States.  

Chinese Trawlers Threaten Future of Sierra Leone Fishing Industry

 The Guardian published on 1 February 2022 an article titled "Illegal Overfishing by Chinese Trawlers Leaves Sierra Leone Locals 'Starving'" by Peter Yeung.

Chinese owners hold about 40 percent of the industrial fishing licenses off Sierra Leone.  Unregulated and unreported fishing has reduced the fish stock to the extent that Sierra Leone fishermen can no longer compete.  Local fishermen also complain that Chinese trawlers are engaging in illegal fishing practices.

US Speculation about China's Military Bases in Africa

 AllAfrica.com posted on 27 January 2022 a commentary titled "Equatorial Guinea: U.S.-Chinese Competition Escalates Cold War in Africa" by Daniel Volman, African Security Research Project in Washington.

The author notes there is no evidence in unclassified sources of Chinese interest in acquiring a naval base in Equatorial Guinea or anywhere else in West Africa.  The article reviews the speculation in the US military about the prospects of China seeking military bases in Africa beyond its existing base at Djibouti.

Is China Planning Military Base in Equatorial Guinea?

 The Center for Strategic and International Studies published on 20 December 2021 an analysis titled "Is China Building a New String of Pearls in the Atlantic Ocean?" by Bonny Lin, Jude Blanchette, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., and Mvemba Phezo Dizolele.

This is a detailed look at recent reports that China may be seeking to establish a military facility at the port of Bata in the Gulf of Guinea.  The government of Equatorial Guinea denies the report.  China has yet to officially comment on its military intentions in Equatorial Guinea, but Beijing has started to make a case for a military base in the Gulf of Guinea.   The situation is reminiscent of the period leading up to the announcement of China's first overseas military base in Djibouti.  

China, Equatorial Guinea, and Military Bases

 The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) published on 14 December 2021 an analysis titled "China's New Military Base in Africa: What It Means for Europe and America" by Michael Tanchum.

Although the title of the analysis suggests that China has a military base in Equatorial Guinea, the body of the piece makes clear that the report is significant only "if true."

Comment:  The ECFR story stems from a 6 December article in the Wall Street Journal that begins "Classified American intelligence reports suggest China intends to establish its first permanent military presence on the Atlantic Ocean in the tiny Central African country of Equatorial Guinea, according to [unnamed] U.S. officials."

These purposely leaked accounts tend to raise more questions than shed light and, if they are inaccurate, raise credibility about the sources.  The dilemma with the report on Equatorial Guinea is that China has made clear it intends to build a navy with global reach and it obviously needs some kind of port facilities or guaranteed access to support that effort.  

It is a fact that China is financing, building, managing, and making equity investments in ports around Africa.  In addition to its military base in Djibouti on the Indian Ocean, it stands to reason that China intends to secure People's Liberation Army Navy access elsewhere around Africa. But this does not necessarily have to be in the form of a full-fledged military base such as it has in Djibouti.  It could take numerous other forms short of a military base and China may conclude that is the better policy, at least for the time being.   

China's Naval Interests in Africa's Atlantic Coast

 The Washington Examiner published on 14 December 2021 an article titled "'They Want to Become a Superpower': African Port Links Could Make Chinese Access to Atlantic Inevitable" by Joel Gehrke.

The article looks at the prospects for increased access in West African ports by China's People's Liberation Army Navy as it seeks to become a global naval power.  

Africa in China's Strategic Thinking

 The National Bureau of Asian Research published in June 2012 a report titled "A New Great Game? Situating Africa in China's Strategic Thinking" by Nadege Rolland.

The author concludes that Chinese strategists seem to envisage Africa as an essential piece in an escalating geostrategic contest for global influence between China and the U.S.-led West.  Beijing's emerging strategy aims at making the continent fit into a new subsystem comprising much of the global South that China aspires to dominate.  China aims to persuade African countries to adopt aspects of its political and economic system and is preparing to export its model to Africa and perhaps to other parts of the developing world as well.  

US General Says China Making big Bets on Africa

 The Associated Press published on 6 May 2021 an article titled "General: China's Africa Outreach Poses Threat from Atlantic" by Lolita C. Baldor.

General Stephen Townsend, the head of U.S. Africa Command, said China has approached countries stretching from Mauritania to Namibia on Africa's Atlantic coast in an effort to establish a naval facility where the People's Liberation Army Navy can rearm and repair warships.  China is "making big bets on Africa."