China's Strategic Port Development in Africa

 The Africa Center for Strategic Studies published on 10 March 2025 an analysis titled "Mapping China's Strategic Port Development in Africa" by Paul Nantulya.

Chinese firms are present in about one-quarter of Africa's 231 commercial ports.  In some cases, Chinese firms dominate the entire port development effort from finance to construction, operations, and share ownership.  This increases access opportunities for the People's Liberation Army Navy vessels.  

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's Reaction to Increased Indian Navy Patrols in Western Indian Ocean

 The Diplomat published on 10 February 2024 a commentary titled "What Does China Think About India's Increased Anti-Piracy Patrols Amid the Red Sea Crisis?" by Andrew Orchard, US Navy officer.

Ten or more Indian Navy ships with reconnaissance aircraft now patrol the western Indian Ocean.  Between $235-240 billion worth of India's annual trade passes through the Red Sea.  While Chinese experts understand the importance of Indian Ocean SLOCs to New Delhi, they are skeptical of New Delhi's intentions and see the increased Indian naval presence as an effort to control this region.

China Freerides in the Red Sea

 The Atlantic Council published on 13 February 2024 an analysis titled "China Is Testing Its Freeriding Strategy in the Red Sea" by Leonie Allard.

China is freeriding on US and European security efforts in the Red Sea to enhance its own presence and influence in the Gulf of Aden and northwestern Indian Ocean.  It is reaping benefits while others secure the shipping lanes in the Red Sea.  

Indian Navy Patrols in Western Indian Ocean Raise Concerns in Beijing

 The Diplomat published on 10 February 2024 a commentary titled "What Does China Think About India's Increased Anti-Piracy Patrols Amid the Red Sea Crisis?" by Andrew Orchard, US Navy officer.

Ten or more Indian Navy ships with reconnaissance aircraft now patrol the Western Indian Ocean.  Chinese maritime experts are expressing skepticism about New Delhi's intentions.  

China-India Competition in the Indian Ocean as Seen by Vietnamese Scholars

 The Journal of Liberty and International Affairs published in July 2023 an article titled "Competition of Strategy between China and India in the Indian Ocean Nowadays" by Tran Hoang Long, Tran Thi Hai Yen, Huynh Trong Hien, and Tran Xuan Hiep.   

The four Vietnamese scholars conclude that China has advantages in the Indian Ocean region, although its presence raises may doubts about its political and military goals.  In the face of competition with China, India has become more flexible and responsive in its Indian Ocean policies as witnessed by its relations with the Maldives and Sri Lanka.  The competition between India and China presents opportunities and challenges for coastal states in the Indian Ocean region.  The competition may also result in a race for military power in the region.  

China Uses Interests in Foreign Ports for Surveillance and Intelligence Collection

 Foreign Policy published on 20 September 2023 a commentary titled "How China Uses Shipping for Surveillance and Control" by Elaine Dezenski and David Rader, both with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.  

The Chinese government has spent the past three decades trying to gain access and influence in the open seas, strategic shipping lanes, and foreign ports around the globe.  China owns, co-owns, or operates some 96 foreign ports.  China has introduced massive and little-understood information gathering infrastructure at critical ports worldwide.  Chinese laws require that all Chinese companies operating overseas--both private and state-owned--gather and report intelligence on foreign entities to the Chinese government. 

Chinese commercial ports routinely host Chinese military vessels and could act as critical resupply points or repair facilities during a conflict.  To this end, China is increasingly pursuing civilian-military interoperability in maritime infrastructure and other domains.  

Implications of China's Base at Djibouti

China Brief published on 22 December 2017 an analysis titled "China's Overseas Military Base in Djibouti: Features, Motivations, and Policy Implications" by John Fei.

The author says it is unclear whether China's military base in Djibouti represents an effort by China just to enhance its peacekeeping and humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities, or suggests greater ambitions. China will probably use the base, however, primarily to support its economic engagement in the region, increase its abilities to provide humanitarian and disaster relief, and conduct anti-piracy and counterterrorism operations.

African Maritime Strategy and International Naval Interests

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria published on 4 August 2015 a thoughtful analysis titled "In the Game of Maritime Power Politicking, Is Africa the Biggest Loser?" by Timothy Walker, ISS researcher.  Walker begins with the premise that African stakeholders seldom feature in the global discussion of African maritime issues and are often seen as little more than passive actors. 

China's Maritime Strategy

The Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University published in April 2015 a study titled "China Moves Out: Stepping Stones Toward a New Maritime Strategy" by Christopher H. Sharman, a US Navy officer studying at the National Defense University.  While the study focuses on China's maritime strategy in the Pacific Ocean, it also looks at future strategy in the Indian Ocean, which has implications for Africa and island nations in the Western Indian Ocean.