Newsweek published on 22 April 2025 an article titled "China Shows Off New Warplanes in Challenge to U.S." by Amira El-Fekki.
China's first joint air force exercise with Egypt highlighted Beijing's push to project power into the Middle East and North Africa. The PLA Air Force sent J-10c and J-10s fighters while Egypt fielded its MiG-29 aircraft for the exercise.
The Asia Live News Service published on 16 April 2025 an article titled "Chinese Xian Y-20 Strategic Airlifters in Egypt: A Defining Moment in Middle East Power Realignment."
In early April, six Chinese Y-20 strategic airlifters arrived at an Egyptian airbase. The Y-20 is China's answer to the American C-17 Globemaster. The contents of the Y-20 aircraft have not been made public. The aircraft returned to China after 72 hours on the ground in Egypt.
This event was a strategic signal from Beijing to the world--and especially to Washington--that China's military influence is no longer confined to East Asia. For Egypt, it was a calculated pivot in its decades-old dependence on Western military support. A partnership with China, allows Egypt to hedge its bets. Egypt's arms diversification is occurring as Saudi Arabia, and the UAE expand their military ties with China.
china-africa relations
