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Chinese President Xi Jinping committed over $50 billion in funding to African countries as China seeks to actively compete for influence in the region with the United States.
What’s the deal: At the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit in Beijing, President Xi pledged $50 billion in funding to Africa, including $30 billion in credit lines, $10 billion in investments by Chinese companies, and military aid. Xi also promised to create at least 1 million jobs for the continent and implement 30 major infrastructure projects, along with 1,000 smaller initiatives aimed at local development.
What Xi Jinping said: During the summit, President Xi also announced that China would seek to expand its trade with African countries. President Xi was quoted by his foreign ministry saying that “China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.” Xi also showed interest in training 6,000 African military personnel and was seeking to “conduct joint military exercises, training and patrols” with African countries.
Digging Deeper: Geopolitical competition between China and the US in Africa has intensified as both seek influence over the resource-rich continent with its rapidly growing population. For over a decade, China has mirrored US policies by offering similar investments as an alternative. Additionally, China is eager to expand its military presence in the region, already having a base in Djibouti and showing interest in establishing one in Equatorial Guinea.
Concerns over another base: Back in 2022, former Army Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, head of US Africa Command, warned that China’s efforts to build a military base on Africa’s west coast could pose a threat to US national security. Testifying before lawmakers, he said, “The thing I think I’m most worried about is this military base on the Atlantic coast, and where they have the most traction for that today is in Equatorial Guinea. As a first priority, we need to prevent or deter a Chinese space on the Atlantic coast of Africa.”
Who attended the summit: Key African officials who participated in the summit included South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye. In addition, key US allies in Africa, including Kenya, were also in attendance. One notable absence was Eswatini, the only African country that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
