FILE - Then-Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend flies north of Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 8, 2017. Now a general and head of U.S. Africa Command, he says the U.S. knows the Chinese "desire a network of bases around the globe."
VOA: China Eyes More Bases in Africa, US Military Official Says
U.S. forces in Africa are keeping a watchful eye on China, worried Beijing is getting closer to establishing a network of military and naval bases across the continent.
"We know the Chinese desire a network of bases around the globe," the head of U.S. Africa Command, General Stephen Townsend, told lawmakers Thursday, adding, "My concern is the greatest along the Atlantic coast of Africa."
China established its first military base in on Africa’s east coast, in Doraleh, Djibouti, in 2017, raising concern among U.S. military officials who described the Chinese facility as being “right outside our gates” of the U.S. base at Camp Lemonnier.
Townsend said that since then, Beijing has worked on expanding its footprint in Djibouti as it eyes additional locations.
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WNU Editor: China's economic investments coupled with developing diplomatic and political relations in Africa are enormous. It should surprise no one that China is positioning itself to make sure that its interests in Africa are "protected".
1 comment:
True, no surprise. That said, having a lot of bases is one thing, having the logistic for supporting it is an other story.
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