Chinese PLAN Grows African Reach with Joint Exercises with Tanzania, Mozambique

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) showcased its growing partnership with African nations during recent exercises with Tanzania and Mozambique.

Chinese and Tanzanian militaries recently trained together as part of Exercise Peace Unity-2024. The PLAN’s amphibious dock landing ship Qilianshan (Hull 985) took part in the exercises.

Both navies trained together in land drills at the Comprehensive Training Center (CTC) in Mapinga, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They carried out training and operations on joint planning, multi-dimensional reconnaissance, raid and rescue, encirclement, suppression and arrest, all-dimensional pursuit and other subjects, a Chinese Ministry of Defence release stated.

The maritime drills held off the coast of East Africa featured Chinese, Tanzanian and Mozambican troops with the three sides carrying out drills on joint patrol, Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), joint search and rescue, counter-terrorism and anti-piracy, and other subjects.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) also trained together with pilots from the Tanzanian air forces at the Ngerengere Air Force Base. The two air forces trained on basic flying skills and tactics while exploring methods for handling air situations in joint counter-terrorism operations.

[Editor’s note: China, much like the US, is using training activities – exercises and such – as engagement tools with African nations. One most memorable China exercise occurred with Russia and South Africa in 2023 off the South Africa coast.]