Thread: General: China Africa outreach poses threat from Atlantic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S general for Africa is warning that a growing threat from China may come not just from the waters of the Pacific but from the Atlantic as well.


U.S. Gen. Stephen Townsend, in an interview with The Associated Press, said Beijing is looking to establish a large navy port capable of hosting submarines or aircraft carriers on Africa’s western coast. Townsend said China has approached countries stretching from Mauritania to south of Namibia, intent on establishing a naval facility. If realized, that prospect would enable China to base warships in its expanding Navy in the Atlantic as well as Pacific oceans.


“They’re looking for a place where they can rearm and repair warships. That becomes militarily useful in conflict,” said Townsend, who heads U.S. Africa Command. “They’re a long way toward establishing that in Djibouti. Now they’re casting their gaze to the Atlantic coast and wanting to get such a base there.”


Townsend’s warnings come as the Pentagon shifts its focus from the counterterrorism wars of the last two decades to the Indo-Pacific region and threats from great power adversaries like China and Russia. The Biden administration views China’s rapidly expanding economic influence and military might as America’s primary long-term security challenge.


U.S. military commanders around the globe, including several who may lose troops and resources to bolster growth in the Pacific, caution that China’s growing assertiveness isn’t simply happening in Asia. And they argue that Beijing is aggressively asserting economic influence over countries in Africa, South America and the Middle East, and is pursuing bases and footholds there.


“The Chinese are outmaneuvering the U.S. in select countries in Africa,” said Townsend. “Port projects, economic endeavors, infrastructure and their agreements and contracts will lead to greater access in the future. They are hedging their bets and making big bets on Africa.”


China’s first overseas naval base was built years ago in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and it is steadily increasing its capacity. Townsend said as many as 2,000 military personnel are at the base, including hundreds of Marines who handle security there.


“They have arms and munitions for sure. They have armored combat vehicles. We think they will soon be basing helicopters there to potentially include attack helicopters,” said Townsend.


For some time, many have thought that China was working to establish a Navy base in Tanzania, a country on Africa’s eastern coast, that has had a strong, longstanding military relationship with Beijing. But Townsend said it appears there’s been no decision on that yet.


He said that while China has been trying hard to get a base in Tanzania, it’s not the location he’s most concern about.


“It’s on the Indian Ocean side,” he said. “I want it to be in Tanzania instead of on the Atlantic coast. The Atlantic coast concerns me greatly,” he said, pointing to the relatively shorter distance from Africa’s west coast to the U.S. In nautical miles, a base on Africa’s northern Atlantic coast could be substantially closer to the U.S. than military facilities in China are to America’s western coast.


More specifically, other U.S. officials say the Chinese have been eyeing locations for a port in the Gulf of Guinea.


The Defense Department’s 2020 report on China’s military power, said China has likely considered adding military facilities to support its naval, air and ground forces in Angola, among other locations. And it noted that the large amount of oil and liquefied natural gas imported from Africa and the Middle East, make those regions a high priority for China over the next 15 years.


Henry Tugendhat, a senior policy analyst with the United States Institute of Peace, said China has a lot of economic interests on Africa’s west coast, including fishing and oil. China also has helped finance and build a large commercial port in Cameroon.


He said that any effort by Beijing to get a naval port on the Atlantic coast would be an expansion of China’s military presence. But the desire for ocean access, he said, may be primarily for economic gain, rather than military capabilities.


Townsend and other regional military commanders laid out their concerns about China during recent congressional hearings. He, along with Adm. Craig Faller, head of U.S. Southern Command, and Gen. Frank McKenzie, head of U.S. Central Command, are battling to retain their military forces, aircraft and surveillance assets as the Pentagon continues to review the shift to great power competition.


Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is conducting a global posture review to determine if America’s military might is positioned where it needs to be, and in the right numbers, around the world to best maintain global dominance. That review is expected to be finished in late summer.


General: China'''s Africa outreach poses threat from Atlantic

China plans to revive strategic Pacific airstrip, Kiribati lawmaker says

SYDNEY (Reuters) -China has drawn up plans to upgrade an airstrip and bridge on one of Kiribati’s remote islands about 3,000km southwest of Hawaii, lawmakers told Reuters, in a bid to revive a site that hosted military aircraft during World War Two.

The plans, which have not been made public, involve construction on the tiny island of Kanton (also spelled Canton), a coral atoll strategically located midway between Asia and the Americas.


Kiribati opposition lawmaker Tessie Lambourne told Reuters she was concerned about the project, and wanted to know whether it was part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.


“The government hasn’t shared the cost and other details other than it’s a feasibility study for the rehabilitation of the runway and bridge,” Lambourne told Reuters. “The opposition will be seeking more information from government in due course.”


The office of Kiribati President Taneti Maamau did not respond to questions.


MORE China plans to revive strategic Pacific airstrip, Kiribati lawmaker says | Reuters

China has one foreign naval base, in Djibouti. Time for America to panic. Maybe open another one, in Tristan da Cunha.

Possibly

Originally Posted by misskit

Kiribati opposition lawmaker Tessie Lambourne

should discus her fears with her government prior to making a fool of herself talking to Reuters.

She may then be more aware of what the topic entails.

Then she would be able to express her concerns with more leverage.

Originally Posted by sabang

China has one foreign naval base, in Djibouti. Time for America to panic. Maybe open another one, in Tristan da Cunha.

What's up with Djibouti? America has it's only permanent base there and the Chinese have their only foreign naval base in the same country? Strange.

A look at a map should make it fairly self explanatory.


It's relatively stable but with a lot of surrounding hot spots.

France has a base in Djibouti too. It's a former French colony, I believe.

Originally Posted by OhOh

should discus her fears with her government prior to making a fool of herself talking to Reuters.

What is it with you and your misogynistic posts all the time . . . she, nor anyone, needs your guidance nor permission to air their views or opinions. You, least of all shouldn't accuse others of making fools of themselves.

Originally Posted by russellsimpson

What's up with Djibouti? America has it's only permanent base there and the Chinese have their only foreign naval base in the same country? Strange.

Right outside the Suez . . . lots of piracy concerns. (Plus France, as Nev mentioned)

And I've just read that Italy and Japan have bases in Djibouti, too. Good income for the government of Djibouti, I suppose.

So, why the US do not build some bases in Africa? Staying with their servicemen/women only at home behind their gates, protecting themselves against attacks from outside...

^^ And they'll be relatively safe from invading hordes . . . except the ones already there

Originally Posted by Klondyke

Staying with their servicemen/women only at home behind their gates, protecting themselves against attacks from outside...

Do try to make sense every now and then

Originally Posted by Klondyke

So, why the US do not build some bases in Africa?

https://theintercept.com/2020/02/27/...bases-africom/

He knows the answer already - it's obvious by the way he asked the question.

He's just being a dick as per usual.

(The Chinese should not threaten the other peacemaker in Africa...)


USACE establishes permanent presence in Africa to support key missions
March 2, 2021

ABUJA, Nigeria – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently established a permanent presence on the ground in Africa to oversee key U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) projects here.

Europe District manages construction in both Europe and Africa and recently relocated a project engineer to Nigeria on a permanent basis to primarily support the construction of new facilities for the A-29 Super Tucano wing at Kainji Airbase.

Project Engineer Adewale Adelakun began setting up his office in November 2020 and is now fully in place.

“To be there on the continent is a huge step forward in order to deliver high quality construction to our stakeholders,” Adelakun said.

While Europe District has supported AFRICOM missions on the continent for years, this move to establish a permanent presence is an important step as the mission’s support and partnership with the Nigerian military grows and includes AFRICOM’s work to promote regional security, stability and prosperity.

“We recognize the growing significance our work in Africa has on achieving our national security goals,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Tickner, USACE North Atlantic Division Commander. “Having a permanent presence on the continent allows us to better leverage our capabilities to support AFRICOM's and the State Department's desired objectives by building partner capacity and sustaining host nation relationships.”

Now with the consolidation of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. Army Africa into one command, the placement of a Europe District employee in Africa is more important than ever.

Read more
USACE establishes permanent presence in Africa to support key missions | Article | The United States Army

Once the chinky parasites have sucked Africa dry there will be no need for any bases anyway.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Once the chinky parasites have sucked Africa dry there will be no need for any bases anyway.

Luckily, the Africans have somebody (generously) watching over them...

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

sucked Africa dry

Why, 1.341 billion consumers and growing, need trinkets, beads, vaccines ....

China has a proven, deliverable option. Tailored to suit every democratic African government the western colonialists left behind them.

"Total population as of 2020 is estimated at more than 1.341 billion, with a growth rate of more than 2.5% p.a."

Lots of phones, roads, bridges, dams, railways, ports, factories, HV power lines, solar panels, cotton bales, airports and theme parks to build.

Africans want a "reasonably prosperous" future.

Not a 1,000s km trek north, multiple river crossings, desert crossings, sea journey in rubber dingies ....

Originally Posted by OhOh

Africans want a "reasonably prosperous" future.

Which is why they are often prone to perform mob violence on their cheap chinkie bosses.

Originally Posted by pickel

prone to perform mob violence on their cheap chinkie bosses.

No bosses to pay them?

An excellent plan to repeat?