African Ports in China’s Strategy: Economic Influence or Geopolitical Expansion?

In recent decades, the pace of Chinese expansion in Africa has accelerated, with the continent’s maritime ports becoming a crucial part of Beijing’s economic and geopolitical strategies. While China asserts that these investments contribute to enhancing trade and economic development for African nations, some observers argue that the situation extends beyond this, potentially strengthening Chinese influence and creating maritime footholds that could have future military implications. Do these projects represent a new model of economic cooperation, or are they a continuation of a broader strategy through which China seeks to cement its position as a key player in the global geopolitical landscape?

Chinese Expansion in African Ports: Economic Influence or Strategic Growth?

State-owned Chinese companies are key players in the development and management of African ports, with their activities extending to 78 ports across 32 countries. Chinese influence is most concentrated in West Africa, hosting 35 Chinese port projects, compared to 17 in East Africa, 15 in Southern Africa, and 11 in Northern Africa. Thus, China is present in over a quarter of the continent’s maritime trade centers, a presence surpassing any other region in the world, with just 10 ports in Latin America and 24 in Asia.

In many instances, Chinese companies control port development projects from financing to operations. For example, at Nigeria’s Lekki Port, China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) took charge of construction, secured funding from the China Development Bank (CDB), and holds a 54% stake in the port, operating it under a 16-year lease. China generates trade revenues of $13 for every dollar invested in ports, providing significant economic and strategic advantages.

Sovereignty and Security Concerns: Chinese Dominance and Its Implications

Beyond financial benefits, the expansion of Chinese companies in operating African ports raises sovereignty and national security concerns, as operators can control dock allocation, allow or deny ship visits, and provide preferential treatment for Chinese shipments. Consequently, some foreign nations restrict external parties from managing their ports to safeguard national security.

China currently operates in ten African ports while the continent moves towards privatizing port operations to improve efficiency. Delays and mismanagement in African ports are estimated to inflate handling costs by 50% compared to global rates, emphasizing the urgent need for performance improvements despite the associated risks of increasing dependency on Chinese companies.

Military Dimension: Between Trade and Strategic Positioning

One significant concern regarding China’s port expansion in Africa is the potential for military uses. In 2017, China expanded the Doraleh Port in Djibouti, initially a commercial project, to include a naval facility that became China’s first overseas military base just two months after the port’s inauguration. This has fueled speculation about China replicating this model elsewhere on the continent, heightening fears regarding its geostrategic agenda.

These movements intensify African anxieties about being drawn into geopolitical rivalries among major powers, amid growing caution about hosting more foreign military bases. Consequently, both African and international interest is rising in analyzing the implications of China’s port expansion and its potential ties to dual-use military bases.

Rationale Behind China’s Port Strategy

China’s five-year plans reflect clear strategic trends toward enhancing its global maritime influence, with the current plan (2021-2025) prioritizing the expansion of port networks under the Belt and Road Initiative. The “connectivity framework,” encompassing six key corridors—three of which traverse Africa—demonstrates the continent’s centrality to this strategy. Egypt, Tunisia, Kenya, and Tanzania are linked to these corridors, reinforcing Africa’s role as a critical platform within China’s grand ambitions.

In this context, Beijing seeks to establish itself as a “global maritime power,” a direction within its broader vision for elevating its geopolitical and economic standing. The concept of “overseas strategic strong points,” featured in informal Chinese analyses, highlights the importance of African ports in China’s influence strategy, as Chinese companies manage and invest in these ports, granting them direct control over trade flows and long-term strategic effects.

Military and Economic Dimensions: Strategic Integration or Dual Influence?

The integration of military and civilian infrastructure is a cornerstone of Chinese policy in port management, where commercial infrastructure meets military standards, making it viable for defense purposes. Consequently, this strategy raises increasing questions about China’s true motives, especially following the establishment of the Doraleh base in Djibouti in 2017, which started as a commercial port before transforming into China’s first overseas military installation.

From an economic standpoint, China’s expansion of ports in Africa has deepened the continent’s reliance on Chinese infrastructure. The “going out” strategy (Zouchuqu Zhanlue) has framed a system encouraging Chinese companies to penetrate emerging markets, benefiting from substantial government support and subsidies. The Belt and Road Initiative has become an extension of this strategy, assisting Beijing in creating a global maritime trade network that serves its strategic interests while keeping African nations within the sphere of Chinese influence.

Dominating African Trade: Balanced Partnership or Economic Dependency?

The inadequacy of port infrastructure has hindered trade between China and Africa, prompting Beijing to fund major projects linking ports to internal transport networks, particularly in the 16 landlocked countries. Consequently, African ports have become integral to the Chinese commercial landscape, enhancing Beijing’s ability to control the flow of goods and resources.

Furthermore, Chinese companies have leveraged their technologies and expertise in developing export infrastructure, rendering themselves key players in the sector, which African nations increasingly rely upon. As a result of this dependency, China has secured unexpected political gains, with African nations displaying a reduced inclination to oppose Chinese interests on the international stage and showing less support for sanctions aimed at China. As noted by an African Union diplomat: “Dependence on Chinese infrastructure makes African nations more willing to back China’s global interests.”

Future Outlook: Between Cooperation and Geopolitical Competition

As China continues to consolidate its maritime presence in Africa, the debate intensifies over whether this influence constitutes a balanced partnership or is an instrument for economic and political dominance. While Beijing views these investments as essential for trade development, concerns are mounting regarding the underlying geostrategic objectives of this expansion, particularly as indications grow that African ports may play a dual role in the future, combining commercial and military functions.

In this equation, the primary question remains: To what extent will African countries be able to maintain their economic and political decision-making independence amidst growing Chinese influence?

Chinese Military Expansion in Africa: Maritime Influence in a Strategic Context

As China seeks to enhance its global power status, it is intensifying its military presence in African ports through a dual approach of economic investment and military infrastructure development. As the number of ports managed by Chinese enterprises increases, questions arise regarding the strategic dimensions of this expansion, especially given the growing military capabilities associated with these ports.

Ports as Logistic and Military Support Centers

Certain African ports operating with Chinese involvement are equipped to receive Chinese naval vessels, whether for refueling and maintenance or even hosting military exercises. In recent years, the Chinese navy has made repeated visits to key ports in countries like Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, and Madagascar, indicating a growing Chinese reliance on African port infrastructure for its naval operations.

Moreover, some of these ports have been utilized as launch points for joint military exercises, such as in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Lagos (Nigeria), and Doraleh (Djibouti). In some scenarios, Chinese facilities in these nations have played a vital role in facilitating military drills, with China building advanced military installations in various African nations, such as the Kigamboni naval base in Tanzania, underscoring the dual nature of these investments.

Chinese Expansion and Concerns Over Militarization of Ports

Since 2000, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has made 55 visits to African ports and conducted 19 bilateral and multilateral military exercises, indicating a gradual shift in the role of these ports from commercial centers to operational support points. Although Chinese investment in ports is often justified by economic motives, the reality showcases a close linkage between economic interests and military objectives, evidenced by Hutchison Ports obtaining a 38-year operating concession at Abu Qir naval base in Egypt—an indicator of Chinese penetration into the maritime infrastructure of strategically important nations.

Potential Chinese Ports as Future Military Bases

As discussions continue regarding which ports could evolve into future Chinese military bases, several critical indicators emerge:

• The scale of Chinese ownership in ports: China holds significant stakes in some ports, such as 66% in Kribi (Cameroon), 52% in Lekki (Nigeria), and 50% in Lomé (Togo), granting it substantial leverage in managing these facilities.
• The previous military record of the port: 36 African ports have hosted visits or military training by Chinese forces, reflecting their capacity to support broader naval operations.
• Physical and technical specifications: These include the number of berths, capacity, refueling and maintenance capabilities, and their alignment with the requirements of Chinese military fleets.
• Geopolitical factors and bilateral relations: The strength of political and economic ties with China influences potential locations for any future Chinese military presence.

Political Considerations and Sovereignty Risks

As China’s presence in African ports grows, a significant challenge emerges concerning the national sovereignty of host countries. While Beijing defends its investments as drivers of economic development, there are rising concerns that these projects could undermine the strategic autonomy of African nations, particularly with the potential repurposing of commercial ports for military objectives.

Public opinion in host nations is also becoming a crucial factor in this dialogue, with growing discontent regarding foreign military presence in various African countries, potentially posing obstacles to future Chinese expansion.

Balancing Economic Interests with Sovereignty Concerns in Chinese Port Investments in Africa

African ports have witnessed a notable surge in Chinese investment, regarded as part of a comprehensive strategy to amplify China’s economic and geostrategic influence. While these projects are promoted as contributing to enhancing commercial efficiency, reducing transport costs, and bolstering market competitiveness, they also raise questions regarding their impact on national sovereignty and regional security.

Despite official discussions focusing on economic benefits, the sovereign or security dimensions of these projects are rarely addressed, especially amidst the growing militarization of Chinese policy in Africa, as seen in increasing military exercises and visits by the Chinese navy to African ports. Some observers fear that this may inadvertently draw African nations into the geopolitical rivalries between major powers, undermining the continent’s commitment to non-alignment.

Thus, achieving a genuine balance between economic benefits and sovereignty risks necessitates bolstering the role of African governments, national security experts, and civil society in assessing the implications of these investments. They must develop strategies that preserve financial independence, protect national sovereignty, and ensure that these projects do not morph into tools of political or military influence at the expense of African strategic interests.

In conclusion, as China continues to expand its investments in African ports, questions linger about the true objectives of these projects and their effects on the sovereignty of host countries. While many African nations benefit from the advanced infrastructure China provides, concerns over economic dominance and military utilization of these ports remain. Amidst the rising international competition for influence on the continent, the greatest challenge for African countries is achieving a balance between benefiting from Chinese investments and maintaining political and economic decision-making independence.

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