Africa Pivots to China’s Global Security Initiative
On 5 September 2024, in his keynote at the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Chinese President Xi Jinping stated:
“Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense suffering on developing countries. […] China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.”[1]
Xi underscored China’s and Africa’s “modernisation” as “just and equitable, open and win-win”, “people-centred”, “diverse and inclusive”, “eco-friendly”, and “underpinned by peace and security”—characteristics often branded as the “China model”. At the same event, Xi set new precedents for China-Africa ties by elevating China’s bilateral relations with all African countries that recognise the People’s Republic of China (all 53 countries except Eswatini) to at least the “strategic level”, characterising China-Africa bilateral relations as an “all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,”[a] proposing a new China-Africa trade and investment agreement, and committing to training African leaders.[2]
Over the past decades, China’s relations with Africa have grown significantly, driven by economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and diplomatic ties. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the FOCAC, China has become Africa’s largest trading partner and a key investor in sectors such as mining, energy, telecommunications, and transportation. China follows a “non-interference” policy, offering loans and investments with fewer political conditions than those from the United States (US) or international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. China, unlike the West, also does not pressure African governments on issues like good governance, democracy, human rights, or political transparency, making it an attractive partner for many African nations.