ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates China’s emergence as a regional security actor in Africa, considering not only the changing security objectives on the continent but also domestic and global drivers of China’s foreign policy. Since the inauguration of Xi Jinping in 2013, China has greatly and assertively enhanced its direct involvement in Africa’s security affairs and expanded the cooperation with the African Union focusing on conflict resolution and peace building on the continent. The partnership between China and the African Union stretches from soft confidence-building measures and preemptive diplomacy to the development of specific conflict solution mechanisms and direct military support. The evolution of China’s role in African security and its gradual convergence towards multilateral and regional security measures is as much influenced by the emergence of new international threats and ad hoc responses to a changing local environment as it is part of a long-term security strategy. Additionally, domestic power shifts, leadership change, and institutional competition between the People’s Liberation Army and civil actors have to be taken into account when analyzing China’s evolution from bilateral support to multilateral force protection.
