The Libya Tribune published on 27 August 2025 an article titled "China's New Expansion to North Africa" by Sema Kalayaloglu.
China is expanding its outreach to both the Tobruk and Tripoli administrations in Libya as the Trump administration shows little interest in the region. China's support for rail development, solar power, and water treatment plants is evidence of this engagement.
The Emirates Policy Center published on 13 December 2024 an analysis titled "Calculations and Future of China's Role in Libya" by Bilal Abdullah.
The author concluded that China's return to Libya is primarily driven by development and reconstruction efforts, with a noticeable effort to balance ties between authorities in the east and west of the country. China also has political and military interests, though these are not currently central to its policy.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 2 December 2024 a paper titled "The Growing Militarization of China's Africa Policy" by Paul Nantulya.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has increasingly taken on military dimensions. The PLA's growing involvement in FOCAC speaks to the militarization of certain aspects of China's Africa policy.
China's military strategy in Africa is advancing its goal of achieving "the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by 2049." To that end, the PLA is tasked with becoming a "world-class force" by 2030 with the requisite combat and power projection capabilities to defend China's expanding global interests and win future wars closer to home.
The South China Morning Post published on 23 June 2024 an article titled "China Makes Moves to Reopen Economic Ties with Libya, 13 Years after Suspending Trade" by Jevans Nyabiage.
China evacuated almost 36,000 nationals from Libya in 2011, most of them involved in infrastructure projects financed with Chinese loans. A divided country and political instability ever since have made it a difficult place to do business. Nevertheless, China appears to be ready to return with a more significant presence.
The Pacific Review published in December 2023 a study titled "China's 'Do-as-I-Do' Paradigm: Practice-based Normative Diplomacy in the Global South" by Jeremy Garlick, Prague University of Economics and Business, and Fangxing Qin, Beijing Foreign Studies University.
This study argues that China expects partner countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to model their behavior and discourse on the example set by Beijing without significant disagreement. Countries in the Global South have begun to alter their behavior (e.g. frequent reference to win-win cooperation) along the normative lines expected by Beijing rather than those enshrined in the Western-led liberal international order. Nevertheless, there is still space for counter initiatives from the West.
Rowaq Arabi and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies published on 18 December 2022 a study titled "Sino-Arab Cooperation and Its Impact on Human Rights in the Arab Region" by Ahmed A. Khalifa and Rokaya M. Selim.
Drawing on case studies in Sudan, Libya, Syria, and Yemen, the authors conclude that China's position on human rights differs according to two factors. First, it depends on the presence of a stable government in the country. When such a government exists, China's position is more coherent and balanced. Conversely, if the state is divided or contested by two governments or several parties, China's position will be unclear or two-tiered. Second, China attempts to maintain a balance in its regional ties in countries experiencing crisis.
The Middle East Institute published on 23 February 2021 an analysis titled "Chinese Health Diplomacy and the Maghreb in the COVID-19 Era" by Mordechai Chaziza.
The author summarizes how China has used the donation of COVID-19 vaccine and medical supplies to enhance its relations with the countries in the Maghreb.
The Middle East Institute published on 26 January 2021 an analysis titled "'The New Algeria' and China" by John Calabrese, American University.
The author concluded that repeated pledges by both China and Algeria's new government to strengthen the relationship have yet to result in any major material breakthroughs. In fact, Chinese companies and state-owned policy banks appear to be placing their bets and expanding their economic presence elsewhere in North Africa--especially in Egypt, but also in Morocco, and to a lesser extent in Tunisia.
The Middle East Institute published on 22 December 2020 an analysis titled "China's Libya Policy and the BRI: Sights Set on the Future" by Mordechai Chaziza.
Officially, China supports the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya. Chinese diplomats meet with GNA officials while keeping economic channels open but they are careful not to burn bridges with the opposition Libya National Army led by Khalifa Haftar.
The Began-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies published on 4 August 2020 a commentary titled "The New Silk Road and the Maghreb Region" by Mordechai Chaziza, Ashkelon Academic College in Israel.
Since the 2013 launch of China's Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing has shown great interest in the Maghreb region as an entry point to European and African markets. While China is gaining a foothold in the Maghreb, it cannot match US or European dominance in the region.
