China strengthens its long-term presence in East Africa – a strategic issue

Within the framework of China’s major priorities for the East African region and in the context of China’s grand strategy for the African continent, the Chinese military, together with the armies of Tanzania and Mozambique in East Africa, began holding joint military exercises under the slogan “Peace and Solidarity-2024” during the period of 2024 (July 28-August 15); aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the three countries’ armies to conduct land and sea counter-terrorism operations, deepen mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation in the military field, and maintain peace and stability in the East African region.

China has a strong strategic partnership with East African countries, especially Tanzania and Mozambique, with the former having been in contact for 60 years, and with the latter in the military field, especially conducting joint land and sea training and exercises. The most prominent features of the “Peace and Solidarity 2024” strategy between the three countries can be explained as follows:

Land and sea exercises: The “Peace and Solidarity 2024” exercise includes exercises on land and at sea, with the participation of the army and navy forces of the three countries. The Chinese troops in this exercise are composed of two groups of troops: the first group is the ground forces of the Central Theater Command, which consists of the 82nd Army, the Information and Communication Regiment, the Army Hospital and other troops. As well as elements such as attack, reconnaissance, intelligence, special operations, information support and logistics services. As for the second, it is the naval forces of the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army. The Chinese Navy sent two Type 071 integrated landing ships and one Type 025D missile destroyer to Tanzania.

• Chinese troops mobilization: China organized multi-dimensional cross-border mobilization operations and sent participating troops to Tanzania by sea and air. This is also the first time that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army has sent a Type 071 integrated landing ship to participate in an African military exercise.

• Fourth Sino-Tanzania exercise: China started conducting joint military training and exercises with Tanzania more than a decade ago, specifically in 2014. The first exercise between the two countries was held in Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam. This was followed by a second exercise at the Mapinga Training Center in 2019/2020. The third exercise was conducted in September 2023; the two countries conducted joint training for the Marine Corps in Dar es Salaam (Transcend – 2023). This means that this exercise hosted by the Mapinga Integrated Training Center is the fourth Sino-Tanzania joint military exercise.

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China has many goals in holding the Peace and Solidarity 2024 exercise with Tanzania and Mozambique, which can be explained as follows:
• Strengthening security and stability in East Africa: Some countries, such as Tanzania and Mozambique, have suffered from terrorism and extremism, and the security environment in East Africa is turbulent. China emphasizes the strategic importance of East Africa and deepens bilateral military cooperation with regional countries to achieve common development. Therefore, one of the important motivations for Beijing’s enthusiasm for this exercise is to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in East Africa.
• Strengthening Military Cooperation: Through these exercises, China is working to deepen its military cooperation relationship with Tanzania and Mozambique. Tanzania will benefit not only from enhancing its military capabilities, but also from increasing the military experience and combat readiness of its forces.
In turn, Mozambique hopes to deepen military cooperation with China to support its position in the fight against terrorist groups in the northern province of Cabo Delgado.
• Closer ties with African militaries: China has identified military cooperation and military training as two main areas of cooperation with Africa. Professional military training helps strengthen China’s ties with African countries. This, in turn, leads to the expansion of Beijing’s influence.
• Balancing Indian Naval Presence: India maintains strong maritime partnerships with countries in the East African region bordering the Indian Ocean, including Tanzania and Mozambique.
China’s “Peace and Solidarity” exercises with Tanzania and Mozambique can therefore be interpreted as Beijing’s attempt to balance New Delhi’s maritime presence in East Africa, in the context of the two countries’ fierce competition for maritime influence in the Indian Ocean region.

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The Peace and Solidarity 2024 exercise is taking place against the backdrop of multiple regional and international developments, involving the role of a number of other international actors competing with China, the global role of the Chinese Navy, and the volatile security environment in East Africa. This can be explained as follows:

• Military cooperation between Washington and Tanzania: The arrival of Chinese troops taking part in exercises in Tanzania came as Washington launched security talks with Dar es Salaam on combating terrorism, which is behind an insurgency in neighboring Mozambique.
This suggests that there is competition between Washington and Beijing to decide who will be Tanzania’s preferred security partner in dealing with the challenge of terrorism.
• Growth of Chinese naval deployments: The start of the African exercises coincides with China’s announcement of its participation in joint military exercises and maneuvers in many other parts of the world.
• Terrorist attacks in Mozambique: Mozambique has suffered from terrorist attacks by armed groups affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) since 2017, resulting in more than 4,000 deaths and approximately 946,000 displaced. In response to the crisis, Mozambique deployed troops from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Rwandan forces to help contain the militants and prevent them from causing further chaos.
But the delegation withdrew on July 15; again expressing concerns about the resurgence of terrorism in the region; which would affect China’s economic interests in East Africa.

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China has successfully increased its role and influence in East Africa by combining the promotion of the Chinese development model with a display of military strength. Given the Peace Unity exercise, this is expected to continue to a large extent in the future, although the United States may be concerned about this. This can be explained as follows:

• Strengthening military cooperation in the future: Chinese military officials have indicated that China will strengthen military cooperation with Africa in various fields in the future, including joint training, peacekeeping, military education and vocational training, aiming to inject more certainty and stability into the world.

• Competition with the United States: China’s military actions in East Africa affect the influence of the United States in the region, especially as China has become the preferred economic partner of East Africa, while Washington is seen as the preferred security partner. At the same time, it strives to become the preferred security partner of East African countries; this has caused concern in the United States, which does not want to give up its position and security role in the region. China has successfully demonstrated its economic and military strength in East Africa over the past decade.

It can be said that the “Peace and Solidarity 2024” exercise carried out by China in Africa is a qualitative shift in China’s military operations on the African continent in terms of the new way of China’s military involvement in the continent. This approach can be repeated in the future, given the recent tremendous development of the People’s Liberation Army’s external operations; it means that China is strengthening and activating its military presence in East Africa. Consolidating its foothold and interests in the region, preparing for the expansion of its military role and influence in other parts of the continent, although this may cause concerns in Washington, given the ongoing struggle for hegemony and influence between China and the United States in Africa.

A group of writers
Center for Advanced Future Studies
original
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