China Deploys Its 49th Naval Task Force to the Gulf of Aden

 The China Daily Brief posted on 12 August 2026 an article titled "Chinese Navy Dispatches 49th Escort Task Force to Gulf of Aden."

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) dispatched on 12 August its 49th escort task force from a naval port in Sanya, Hainan Province, to the Gulf of Aden and waters of Somalia.  It consists of the guided-missile destroyer Kunming, the guided-missile frigate Yueyang, and the supply ship Luomahu.  The fleet is equipped with two shipborne helicopters and dozens of special operations personnel.

Kenya Balances Security Ties with US and China

 China-Africa Security Radar published on 16 November 2025 an article titled "Mombasa's Strategic Dilemma: Balancing Beijing's Warships and Washington's Partnership" by Paa Kwesi Wolseley Prah.  

The recent visit to the port of Mombasa by a PLA navy destroyer underscores Kenya's balancing of its close security relationship with the United States.  For Kenya, it also signals strategic autonomy and unwillingness to become any single power's client state.  

Chinese Navy Guided-missile Destroyer Visits Kenya

 Defence Web posted on 22 October 2025 an article titled "Chinese Navy Destroyer Baotou Visits Kenya" by Guy Martin.

A PLA Navy guided-missile destroyer made a port call at Mombasa following completion of its assignment with the 47th Chinese naval task force in the Gulf of Aden.  This was the first time in six years that a Chinese naval vessel has docked at a Kenyan port.  

Germany Protests Chinese Laser Attack over Red Sea

 The BBC published on 9 July 2025 an article titled "China Rejects German Claim It Targeted Military Plane with Laser" by Sean Seddon.

Germany officially protested to China that one of its warships in the Red Sea fired a laser beam at a German reconnaissance plane as it was contributing to European Union efforts to protect international shipping from Houthi missiles.  China responded that the German account was "totally inconsistent with the facts known to the Chinese side." 

India Hosts Joint Naval Exercise with Africans to Counter China

 Iglobalnews.com posted on 14 April 2025 an article titled "Indian Navy Conducts Historic Joint Exercise in Africa."

Three Indian naval vessels joined four from Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on 13 April as part of a two-phase joint exercise that includes participants from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.  Phase one includes table-top and command post exercises in Dar es Salaam focused on anti-piracy and information building.  The sea phase will focus on strengthening maritime security cooperation.  Officers and sailors from the 10 countries will spend 35 days together on one of the Indian ships to learn each other's best practices.  

Comment:  The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Indian Navy, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, earlier told the Polish Press Agency that "these maneuvers aim to counter China's growing influence in the region."

Chinese Navy Replaces Ships in Gulf of Aden

 Xinhua posted on 21 February 2024 an article titled "China Sends New Naval Fleet for Escort Mission in Gulf of Aden."

The PLA Navy dispatched the 46th fleet to the Gulf of Aden to replace the 45th fleet as part of its continuing anti-piracy operation.  The fleet consists of the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo, the missile frigate Xuchang, and the supply ship Honghu.  It has over 700 officers and soldiers, including dozens of special forces personnel, and two helicopters.

Comment:  The departing 45th fleet consisted of the guided-missile destroyer Urumqi, missile frigate Linyi, and supply ship Dongpinghu. The only engagement of the 45th fleet during Houthi attacks on international shipping through the Red Sea was the belated escorting of a few Chinese commercial ships. 

Chinese Navy Trains in Gulf of Aden While Chinese Shipping Companies Avoid Red Sea

 

CCTV Video News Agency recently posted a short clip titled "China's 45th Naval Fleet Conducts Anti-Terrorism Drill in Gulf of Aden."

The video shows PLA Navy ships comprising the 45th Naval Fleet (destroyer Urumqi, frigate Linyi, and supply ship Dongpinghu) recently training in the Gulf of Aden for hypothetical antipiracy and counterterrorism operations.  At the same time, Iranian-supported Houthis in Yemen are attacking with drones and missiles international shipping in the nearby Red Sea, forcing many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope. China's state-owned COSCO and Orient Overseas Container Line, which is part of the COSCO Group, have rerouted their ships to avoid possible Houthi attacks.   

The United States, which relies minimally on the Red Sea for commercial transport, is leading an international naval effort to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.  China, which has a significant interest in Red Sea commercial shipping, has naval vessels in the area but apparently has decided not to use them even to protect vessels flagged and owned by China.  Curious.  

Africa Offers a Point of Cooperation for the US and China

The Conversation published on 22 March 2017 a commentary titled "Africa Offers a Point of Cooperation for Xi and Trump" by John J. Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will meet in the US in April. The author suggests that this is an opportunity for the two leaders to discuss trilateral cooperation with African governments.

China, Africa, and the US: Cooperation Rather than Competition

Foreign Affairs published on 3 March 2017 an article titled "Where Beijing, Washington, and African Governments Can Work Together: From Competition to Cooperation" by Mohamed ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Princeton N. Lyman, U.S. Institute of Peace, Jianhua Zhong, former Chinese Special Representative on African Affairs, and John Goodman, The Carter Center.

Given the overlapping interests of Africans, Americans, and Chinese, the authors conclude there is much to do together, especially when it comes to peace and security issues. Collaboration can offer real benefits to all three.

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Chinese and American Military Facilities in Djibouti

The New York Times published on 25 February 2017 an article titled "U.S. Wary of Its New Neighbor in Djibouti: A Chinese Naval Base" by Andrew Jacobs and Jane Perlez.

According to the article, China is constructing a 90-acre base designed to house up to several thousand troops and will include storage structures for weapons, repair facilities for ships and helicopters, and five berths for commercial ships and one for military vessels. China states the main purpose of the facility is to support its anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden and its forces assigned to UN peacekeeping operations in Africa.

US-China Cooperation on African Security

Brookings published on 1 November 2016 a commentary titled "US-China Cooperation on African Security" by Yun Sun.

She argues that both China and the United States have an interest in African peace and security. While US-China cooperation is taking place through multilateral mechanisms such as UN peacekeeping and anti-piracy efforts, there "remains great potential for more bilateral cooperation on African security issues."

China-Tanzania Naval Cooperation

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Tanzanian People's Defence Force recently completed their first ever month long joint naval training exercise in Tanzanian waters.  Defence Web reported on this event in an article dated 19 November 2014 titled "China and Tanzania Conclude Historic Naval Exercise."  China and Tanzania have a long history of military cooperation.