ECONOMIC BRIEF
Tuesday 8th December 2015, China is set to build first overseas military naval base in the East African nation of Djibouti.
The move has been termed by analysts as a broader global economic strategy to reach out to African countries.
The naval base installation in Djibouti will serve as a logistics and supply center.
Many countries have been attracted to build military bases in Djibouti because of its strategically important position and its stable and secure government.
Djibouti is a strategic East African nation with countries such as the United States, France and Japan also having bases in the country.
The small East African Nation geographical proximity is close to African hot spots including Somalia and the Sahel.
The nation also sits on the Gulf of Aden a key global trade route that links Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
China setting up a naval outpost in Djibouti is strategic and according to Peking University professor of international relations Wang Dong, the facility will be instrumental in protecting Beijing’s key shipping routes.
China is an ally of East African countries having deployed U.N. peacekeeping troops to South Sudan and also contributed ships for anti-piracy patrols of Gulf Aden since 2008.
The country foreign policy stands at aiding African nations by partnering in development projects, without necessary interfering with country’s internal affairs.
Every three years, Beijing has doubled its financial support for Africa: from $5 billion in 2006 to $10 billion in 2009 and then to $20 billion in 2012.
President Xi Jinping who was in South Africa last week has tripled his financial support where he pledged $60 billion in loans and aid to Africa.
