Analysis: Live Training as a Chinese Policy Instrument in Africa

The prompt to submit this article should fall in the “messages well received” column. The recent posting of my colleague Atul Chandra’s article on a recent occurrence of Chinese military training activities in Africa generated a few comments from MS&T followers with a simple question: what is the broader scope of Chinese military training engagement on the continent? In short, this event was one of a number of expanding activities among Chinese military forces and their counterparts in the last several months. These activities have been in the live training domain, typically involving low-level types of individual, unit and staff tasks – what one would expect during initial- or early engagement phases between two participating military services.

The author noted a trove of content in open-source government outlets, including China Military Online, to generate this brief update on recent Chinese military activities across the continent.

The Busy PLAN

Much like the US, China uses its naval service as an agile, often go-to and preferred, policy instrument.

The People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has maintained a high-level operating tempo the last several months in different parts of Africa.

In other activities, this month the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo (Hull 163) and the supply ship Honghu (Hull 906), and the Egyptian Navy completed combined maritime training in the Mediterranean. The PLAN ships, together with the Egyptian Navy’s frigate Al Galala, carried out drills on communication coordination, formation maneuver, replenishment-at-sea positioning and other missions.

This July the Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark, which is on the Mission Harmony 2024, arrived at Antsiranana Port, Madagascar to complete a seven-day goodwill visit. The Chinese vessel provide medical service there and conducted academic exchanges and like activities. This was Peace Ark’s first visit to Madagascar.

And also in July the guided-missile destroyer Jiaozuo and the supply ship Honghu completed a five-day port visit to Casablanca, Morocco. The two nations’ navies held cross-deck visits, military exchanges and bilateral joint training. Chinese warships previously visited Morocco on two occasions.

Beyond PLAAF Engagement

Earlier this month pilots from Chinese and Tanzanian air forces completed a four-day tactical and technical exchange at the latter nation’s Ngerengere Air Force Base.

It’s been a fast-paced July and August for Chinese military forces in the African region.

MS&T will continue to report and comment on military forces’ training and exercise activities around the globe.