Thursday, November 16, 2017

Did China Play A Role In Zimbabwe's Coup?

Gen. Li Zuocheng (L), chief of the Joint Staff Department under China's Central Military Commission, holds a welcoming ceremony for Gen. Constantine Guveya Chiwenga (R), commander of the Zimbabwe Defense Forces, in Beijing on Nov 8, 2017. (mod.gov.cn/Li Xiaowei)

The Guardian: Zimbabwe army chief's trip to China last week raises questions on coup

General met Chinese military leaders and defence minister in Beijing on eve of move against Robert Mugabe

When one of the architects of Zimbabwe’s low-key coup landed in Beijing last week he was met by two of the most senior members of the world’s largest military force.

“China and Zimbabwe are all-weather friends,” the head of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF), Gen Constantino Guveya Chiwenga, was told by Li Zuocheng, chief of the joint staff of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), according to a defence ministry report.

Zimbabwe, Chiwenga told his host, was “willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation in all fields with China to promote the rapid development of bilateral state and military relations between the two countries”.

Read more ....

Update: Zimbabwe crisis: Did China give nod to army takeover? (The Telegraph)

WNU Editor: China has huge interests in Zimbabwe, so they would be focused on the country .... China's Zimbabwe Risk (The Diplomat). But as to the timing of the Zimbabwe army chief's trip to China last week and the coup that is happening now .... my gut tells me that this is just a coincidence.

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