Global Humanities and Social Sciences

Sino-Africa Security Relations: A Multidimensional Perspective

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Abstract

This paper examines Sino-African security relations from a multidimensional perspective. It investigates the historical context, encompassing colonial, post-colonial, and contemporary interactions, through the lenses of bilateral, multilateral, and International Relations (IR). Additionally, it underscores how China has utilized soft power diplomacy throughout Africa, including military training and logistical support for various African nations during and after their liberation struggles from colonialism. Over the past five decades, this approach has enabled China to position itself as a prominent geostrategic actor on the continent.

Methodologically, this paper employs a mix of analytical and qualitative approaches, utilizing official reports from the Chinese State Council, multilateral organizations, online publications, Sino-Africa scholarships, and other IR scholarships to provide deeper insight and understanding of the paper. This shift enables more profound insights into various realities, motivations, and understandings of different Sino-African relations from a multidimensional perspective.

The Literature reveals that, although Western Powers, including the United States and Britain, still have a significant foothold in Africa, China, through its soft power diplomacy, has now established strategic and comprehensive military and economic cooperation with more than 50 African countries. China has provided 5,000 training slots to senior military personnel from Africa, with an additional 2,000 since 2015-2018, including ten defence chiefs, eight defence ministers, and six presidents. Over the last decade, many African nations have viewed it as a key player in the global order.

The findings reveal that China has become a normative actor in Africa, not only as an economic actor, but also as a significant military player, challenging the conventional notion that Beijing primarily cares about strengthening ties with Africa due to the continent’s rich natural resources. The findings show that China has held its third China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing, bringing defence and military departments, leaders from nearly 50 African countries, representatives from the African Union, military attachés from embassies of African countries in China, and other parts of Africa. The paper concludes that China’s military expansion in Africa may shift the global order eastward, by realigning reliance away from the United States and Western Countries.

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