The People's Republic of China is setting up its first military base in Africa, thus continuing its evolution into a global superpower. Beijing has signed a ten-year lease agreement with Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, to build a logistics hub.
True, they are building a base in Djibouti - comments the commander of the US Africa Command, General David Rodriguez - will be their first base in Africa.
It was only a matter of time before China established bases abroad.
Beijing - explain from The National Interest - it has huge economic interests in the region it has to protect. China has guaranteed the supply of its growing remote economy with the trade in raw materials.
According to the Economist, China is the main trading partner of the African continent with trade amounting to 160 billion dollars. Over the past ten years, more than one million Chinese workers and traders have moved to Africa. Ships depart from Africa for China loaded with materials. Once processed, they are then exported as finished products.
Finally, China has the advantage of having no intention or desire to impose its values on the local people or their governments. Chinese investments are not tied to any constraint in terms of human rights or government.
(photo: US Navy archive)
